A 59-year-old South African man was trampled to death by an elephant while trying to protect his grandchildren at Kruger National Park. The children had been taking pictures of the animal when it charged, injuring the 11-year-old boy. Emergency services arrived, but the man had already died.

An elephant fatally trampled a South African man who was attempting to protect his grandchildren from the charging animal at the renowned Kruger National Park, authorities reported on Sunday.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday at one of the busiest entrances to the expansive park, located in the eastern region of South Africa, according to police.

The 59-year-old man had been trying to usher two of his grandchildren, ages five and 11, to safety after the elephant charged at them while they were taking pictures and videos of the animal inside the park, a police statement indicated.

As the children fled from the elephant, they fell to the ground. The elephant then struck the 11-year-old boy with its trunk.

It was at this moment that the grandfather rushed to assist, but the elephant turned on him and trampled him before retreating back into the Kruger National Park.

Police and emergency services arrived at the scene, but tragically, the man had already succumbed to his injuries, while the young boy suffered a leg injury.

The man was identified as a South African citizen, as confirmed by SANParks, the national parks authority.

Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in South Africa, spans approximately 20,000 square kilometers (7,700 square miles) of savannah, extending into neighboring Mozambique. In a similar incident in 2021, an alleged poacher was killed by elephants within the park.