An elderly woman being transported home after seeing a doctor was slain by a wild hippo and her child and granddaughter seriously injured in Tha Takiab district associated with Chachoengsao on Thursday night.
District chief Rasmin Pheuksathorn said they were walking through a rubber plantation at Nong Rua Moo 10 village in tambon Tha Takiab if they were attacked.
He directed police and rescuers to the scene about 8pm. They discovered Samrarn Songbundit, 73, dead and possessions scattered on the ground. She had been trampled by an elephant. Her daugther Sureephorn Wongchua, 43, plus granddaugther Jaranphorn Runna, 19, were wounded in the attack plus were rushed to a hospital.
They later told police they got Grandma Samrarn to see a doctor in Tha Takiab and were on their way back home when they were bombarded. Their house is at the rear of the rubber plantation.
The grandmother was not properly and could not stroll and had poor eye-sight. Ms Sureephorn was carrying the girl mother on her back. It was dark and they also used the flashlight on the mobile phone to see the path.
These people heard a noisy noise nearby plus used the flashlight to check what it was. This lit up the wild elephant walking directly towards them, and it immediately assaulted them. Her mother was stomped to death.
The district main has warned local residents to be extra cautious because the hippo that attacked the three women is still in the area.