Featured Image Credit: X/ginnydmm
Topics: Animals, World News, Travel, Crime
Rhianna Benson
Warning: this article contains distressing content.
An 80-year-old tourist has been killed whilst on safari in Zambia after an elephant aggressively charged at their vehicle.
The elderly woman - whose identity hasn't yet been released - is amongst the several travellers injured during the shocking incident, which took place during a game drive at Kafue National Park on the morning of Saturday 30 March.
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A video taken by another safari truck passenger recorded the heart-stopping moments prior to the fatal collision, during which the enormous beast had begun running along the edge of the vehicle.
In the minutes that followed, the truck stopped, with a man heard yelling on the video, 'Ey, ey!' in an attempt to scare the animal away, before the elephant used it's trunk to flip the truck over.
The video then stops recording as the phone appears to fall onto the floor, with the screen going back.
During the once-in-a-lifetime day-trip-gone-wrong - which was organised by the tour company Wilderness Safaris - another woman was amongst those injured and was rushed to a private medical facility in South Africa.
The CEO of the firm, Keith Vincent has since explained that Kafue National Park management were alerted to the incident and immediately dispatched a helicopter.
"Given the nature of the incident, the Police, the Department of National Parks & Wildlife, and other authorities are involved in investigating the matter," he told press.
"Wilderness is cooperating fully with this process. This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died.
"We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident."
According to the tour organiser, the other four guests in the vehicle all obtained minor injuries and were treated accordingly, with 'trauma counselling' having since been 'provided to all involved'.
The tour firm have since released a statement following the tragic incident, claiming that although the driver was competently trained, the type of terrain that the group were travelling on meant that the vehicle was forced to stop.
"Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced," CEO Keith told press.
"But sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide's route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm's way quickly enough."
The company also pleaded with parties involved to refrain from sharing photos and videos of the incident online in respect to the family of the woman killed.
"Meanwhile our teams will continue to support the family of the deceased, as well those guests and staff impacted by this event. We will also be guided by the Zambian Government on the way forward."
Tyla contacted Wilderness Safaris for further comment.