British tourists trampled to death in safari stampede

A mother and her daughter were killed when an elephant trampled them during a safari in a game reserve in western Zimbabwe.

The woman's husband was injured in the accident, which occurred after the group of holidaymakers had left their vehicles to look closer at a male bull elephant while on a two-night visit to Hwange national park.

Managers at the safari camp where the family were staying said last night that the elephant had been in musth, the breeding period when bulls can become very aggressive, and armed guides had not had time to fire directly at the charging animal. The injured man was released after hospital treatment.

Gavin Rennie, of the Hide camp in the heart of Hwange, which is renowned for its diversity of big game, said: "It happened extremely quickly.

"They were with an experienced, professional guide who fired a warning shot, but there was no time to fire a second as the elephant charged. The two who died were trampled under the animal as the rest of the group tried to get away."

Police in Hwange, in the far west of Zimbabwe close to the Botswanan border, said they were investigating if there had been any negligence on the part of the guides during the incident, which took place on Saturday afternoon. The Foreign Office said the names of the dead Britons were being withheld at the request of their relatives.

Elephants are the second most dangerous animal in Zimbabwe for humans, after crocodiles. Charging elephants killed 12 people in the country in 2005. Last year, Gianpaolo Tarabini, husband of the Italian fashion designer Anna Molinari, was killed by two elephants while on a hunting expedition in Zimbabwe.

In October last year, a British tourist on his honeymoon was trampled in Kenya. Patrick Smith, 34, from London, had been married for a week when he was killed in front of his wife.

The latest tragedy happened while the Britons were on a safari drive in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. After spotting a lone elephant, they left the vehicle to reach close quarters on foot.

The Hide is one of Zimbabwe's leading safari camps, charging guests £145 a night for accommodation and guided tours. The Britons were on the second day of their stay and had already completed a walking tour in the park, which covers 14,600 sq km (5,640 sq miles), before setting out.

Mr Rennie said: "It is standard procedure that when there is a fully-qualified guide, our guests can get out of the vehicle and walk towards the animal of interest. The group got closer and it was then that it was noticed the elephant was in musth.

"The guide signalled for everyone to return to the vehicle and that movement caused the elephant to charge. A warning shot was let off but there was no second shot and the guide was knocked over by the elephant as it hit the two people. It is a dreadful tragedy."