Pictured: Spanish student, 22, killed by elephant when it knocked her over with its trunk as she holidayed in Thailand
A Spanish tourist has died after an elephant violently knocked her over with its trunk at a popular animal sanctuary in Thailand.
Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, 22, from Valladolid, was bathing an elephant in the Koh Yao reserve on Thailand’s Yao Yai island on Friday when the animal suddenly dealt her the fatal blow.
Garcia, a law and international relations student, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
According to Spanish national newspaper El Pais, the incident was confirmed by local police and the elephant sanctuary, which is currently closed.
It was previously claimed that the university student was stabbed by the elephant, but the trusted Spanish news agency EFE confirmed that this was not the case.
The incident was confirmed by local police and the shelter, which is currently closed due to the tragic accident.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that about 18 people were present at the time of the incident, including Garcia’s friend.
As far as we know, no one else was injured.
Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, 22, from Valladolid, died in Thailand after an elephant forcefully knocked her over with its trunk at a popular animal sanctuary
The incident happened on Friday at the Koh Yao Shrine on Thailand’s Yao Yai Island. The photo shows tourists posing with an elephant at the elephant sanctuary where Garcia died
The Spaniard studied at the University of Navarra but lived in Taiwan while she completed a six-month study abroad program at Tamkang University.
This year she would have received her bachelor’s degree.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry said the consulate in Bangkok was in contact with Garcia’s family.
Her body has now been transferred to a hospital on Phuket island, where repatriation procedures are being prepared.
Valladolid Mayor Jesus Julio Carnero went to X to express his “deepest condolences” to Garcia’s family.
Elephant bathing is a popular tourist activity in the Southeast Asian country.
Thailand has a population of approximately 3,500 elephants. According to World Animal Protection, an animal welfare nonprofit, about 2,800 elephants live in tourist sites across the country.
Elephants are rarely aggressive, but can take action if they feel threatened or to protect their young.
The Spaniard studied at the University of Navarra but lived in Taiwan while she completed a six-month study abroad program at Tamkang University
Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that about 18 people were present at the time of the incident, including Garcia’s friend (photo)
The tragedy comes months after a Spanish tourist was brutally crushed to death in front of his fiancée by an angry herd of elephants after escaping from his care to take photos in a South African game reserve.
Carlos Luna, 43, from Ejea de los Caballeros near Zaragoza, Spain, was visiting Pilanesberg National Park, near the world-famous tourist resort of Sun City, with his fiancée when they spotted a breeding herd with three cubs near a lake.
Despite warnings from his three fellow passengers to get back in the car, Luna said he wanted to take close-ups of the six elephants, got out and walked towards them.
The screaming Spaniard was then seen running back to safety through the bush to his friends in the car with his camera, but was overtaken by a pursuing herd of elephants who knocked him down and trampled him.
All witnesses said was left after the 30-second attack were the tourist’s torn, blood-soaked clothing and the remains of the tourist’s body crushed into the earth.