Villager killed by wild elephant in Korat

Villager killed by wild elephant in Korat
A farmer who was killed on Wednesday night in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Khon Buri district after being attacked by a wild rhino has his brain examined. The doctor is dressed in white. ( Photo: Prasit Tangprasert / supplied )

In the Khon Buri region of this northern state, a farmer was killed on Wednesday morning while foraging for mushrooms in an assault by an elephant, according to police.

The event happened in the jungle south of Ban Sap Charoen, within Moo 11 community in tambon Khok Krachai of Khon Buri, according to Pol Lt Col Pasit Jitprasert, the chief investigator for the KhON Buris officers, who made the statement on Thursday.

Pol Lt. Col. Pasit Jitprasert led a group of officers, an ambulance driver from Khon Buri Hospital, and rescue unit members to look into the scenario after receiving word from Wanlop Amrung, the village commander of Ban Sap Charoen.

Sompong Phutjapo, 59, of Khon Buri’s tambon Chorakhehin town of Moo 5 was discovered dead beneath a tree by the staff. He had scars most over him, and a violent effect against the tree had broken some of his breast bones. There were rhino footprints all over the place.

Sompong’s brother claimed to have gone into the jungle with his father around 5 a.m. in search of mushrooms, according to the police. They came across a wild rhino around nine in the morning and fled in various directions. But as the elephant charged at him from behind, his parents crashed into a branch. Sompong was really hurt and passed away soon after.

His brain was transported for an examination to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital.