CHACHOENGSAO -- A villager was trampled to death by wild elephants while collecting wild produce with a friend in dense forest near the Khao Ang Ruenai Wildlife Sanctuary in Sanam Chaikhet district on Monday afternoon, police said.
The incident occurred about 4.30pm, according to police.
While they were foraging in the forest a herd of wild elephants suddenly appeared and charged at them. They fled for their lives, but only one of them emerged alive from the forest. The survivor reported to the village headman that his friend was missing.
A search party comprising police, wildlife sanctuary officials and about 30 rescue volunteers walked 2-3 kilometres into the forest from Ban Nayao in tambon Tha Kradan.
After searching for more than an hour near the Khao Ang Ruenai Wildlife Sanctuary they found Chalee Sophakul, 45. He had been stomped to death by the elephants.
Chalee's body was taken out of the forest to Ban Nayao about 9pm.