Tourist Trampled To Death By Elephant At National Park As Friends Watch Helplessly

An elephant charged at a tourist and trampled him to death in front of his friends at a national park in Uganda.

The deceased, identified as Ayman Sayed Elshahany, was traveling to the city of Arua from Masindi through the Murchison Falls National Park on Tuesday when the tragic incident occurred. "They stopped along the way and the deceased went out of the car, an elephant charged at him, killed him on the spot," Uganda wildlife authority spokesman Bashir Hangi said in a statement.

"We are saddened by this incident and we convey our deepest sympathies to the deceased’s family and friends. We have reported the matter to Pakwach Police and we will work closely with the police to ensure that this matter is investigated fully," he added.

Initial reports suggested that the victim was a Saudi national who was in Uganda on vacation. However, in a statement Thursday, the Saudi Embassy in Kampala clarified that he was not a Saudi citizen.

"Some media reported the news of the death of a Saudi tourist in a nature reserve in Uganda, after being run over by a group of elephants," the embassy said in a statement, clarifying that it was untrue.

The park officials said they were reviewing the security protocols in order to "avoid a repeat of such incidents."

Meanwhile, the Uganda wildlife authority appealed to the public to be careful while crossing national parks. "The safety of people in our protected areas remains paramount to us. We, therefore, appeal to the public especially those transiting through the protected areas to take precautions and avoid putting themselves in harm’s way," Hangi said.

In December, an enraged elephant attacked a vehicle full of trainees and an instructor who had gone on a safari drive at the Selati Game Reserve, South Africa. During the safari, the group came across a breeding herd of elephants when one of the animals charged at them. A video of the incident that went viral on social media showed the trainees quickly dropping their belongings and getting off the jeep to escape the attack.