Horror on paradise island as elephant gores man to death in front of daughter

GARETH Crowe was trekking on the back of an elephant with his 16-year-old daughter, Eilidh, when the beast turned violent.

Elephant gores man in front of daughter

A BRITISH tourist was gored to death by an elephant in front of his teenage daughter, it has emerged.

Diver Gareth Crowe, 36, was trekking on the back of the elephant with Eilidh Hughes, 16, and a local guide when the beast turned violent on the island of Ko Samui, Thailand.

Witnesses said the mahout — the animal’s handler — had climbed down to take photos of the pair when it hit him with his trunk and stabbed him in the body with its tusk.

It is believed the elephant then rampaged, throwing Gareth and Eilidh off of its back before trampling the father.

It then stabbed Gareth in his chest with its tusk, killing him instantly.

Eilidh escaped with minor injuries in the fall before the elephant ran off into the forest.

The pair were on holiday with Gareth’s partner Catherine Hughes, mum to Eilidh, and the teen’s brother, who is believed to be called Mark.

Catherine, 42, said: “My head’s all over the place. We were all here on holiday. My son and I didn’t go on the elephants. I’ve been given no information as to what happened or how it happened.

“Eilidh is OK but I don’t know exactly what happened.”

Many tourists ride elephants on the island of Ko Samui, Thailand.

Onlookers said that before the attack the elephant, called Golf, had appeared upset and refused to follow the instructions of the mahout, who hit him several times with a hook.

Local news claimed the animal was being teased with a banana before it became unsettled and attacked.

But Eilidh hit out at reports her dad had been taunting the beast on social media, saying: “He was not teasing the elephant as I was his 16-year-old daughter who is lying in hospital and I was on it.

“I know everything that happened. This is a serious situation.”

Asked about the reports, Catherine added: “I’ve seen some report on a local newspaper but I don’t know if it’s true or not true. All I know is what I’ve been told from Eilidh.

“It’s just myself my son and Eilidh here. I’ve not been in touch with the British Embassy yet, I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.

“Right now I need Eilidh to rest.”

Gareth Crowe.

The elephant stabbed Gareth in his chest with its tusk.

The family are believed to be from the Isle of Islay in the Inner Hebrides before moving to the Scottish mainland two years ago.

Eilidh was initially treated at Samui International Hospital before being moved to Bangkok International Hospital on the island.

A hospital spokeswoman confirmed she was being treated there for minor injuries. It is believed the elephant handler, named locally as Pamang, survived.

The spokesman said Gareth’s body had initially been taken to the hospital before being transferred to the Samui Government Hospital on the island.

The Foreign Office said it had no information on the incident.

Ko Samui, Thailand. Picture: istock

This article originally appeared on The Sun.