A British tourist died after being thrown from the back of an elephant during a ride with his stepdaughter on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand. Gareth Crowe, 36, was mauled by the animal after its handler had dismounted to take photographs, according to the Independent.
Crowe was riding the elephant with his 16-year-old stepdaughter Eilidh, who sustained minor injuries during the incident but is expected to recover shortly, according to the Independent. They were thrown from the animal during a trekking tour after the handler stopped to take photographs of them riding it, according to Sky News.
The 13-year-old male elephant then became enraged and injured its handler before throwing Crowe and Eilidh from its back and trampling and mauling Crowe with its tusks, according to Sky News. The man was killed instantly.
Elephant rides are a popular but controversial tourist attraction in Thailand and other countries, with many animal welfare groups protesting the treatment of the animals as cruel. Witnesses to the event claimed that the elephant became distressed after the handler hit it for not following instructions, according to the Guardian. A spokesperson for World Animal Protection called the incident a "stark reminder" of the dangers and realities of elephant rides, according to the Independent.
"Elephants are cruelly abused to tame them enough so they give rides and perform in shows. Most tourists don't know about these abuses, or the potential danger they put themselves in," the spokesperson told reporters, according to the Guardian. "If you can ride it, hug it, or have a selfie with a wild animal, then the chances are it is cruel and the animal is suffering."
A spokesperson for the British Embassy offered support to Crowe's family and stated that local authorities would be contacted in order to gain more information about the accident, according to the Independent.
