14 DAY TRIAL // A retired UK teacher died in an unusual accident after he was trampled to death by an elephant, while on holiday, in India. The 67-year-old man was doing what he loved the most – pursuing his passion for photography – when the unfortunate incident happened.
Colin Manvell had traveled from his home in Havant, Hampshire, to the Masinagudi National Park in the state of Tamil Nadu, in southern India, to visit local friends. His aim was to go on safari and fulfill his lifelong dream of seeing a tiger in the wild.
David Horsley, coroner for Portsmouth and South East Hampshire, said that Manvell was most likely alone when he was trampled by the huge animal on September 19 last year. The official mentioned that the Indian authorities gave him very little information about the incident, and the only report he received was incomplete and badly photocopied, Daily Mail reports.
“We do not know any more than an elephant must have come out of the undergrowth making trumpeting sounds and he was in its way,” Horsley said, recording a verdict of accidental death.
Several contradicting reports emerged about how the 67-year-old died. Some claimed he had difficulty with his hearing and didn't hear the warnings shouted by guides and other tourists. However, his nephew, Roger Manvell, said his uncle appeared to have good eyesight and hearing.
Other reports suggest that the man was so engaged in his photographing, that he didn't notice the elephant approaching from behind.
Apparently, the wild animal knocked him to the ground with its trunk, then stomped on him, a forest warden said at the moment.
Manvell's nephew said that his uncle was always a very keen traveler, and that for the past five or six years he had visited India twice a year. He had also been to Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Amazon, Roger added.
The 48-year-old tennis coach explained that the family did not have any more information about the circumstances of his uncle's death.
“On the last number of occasions he had been (in India), he always goes out with some friends on what we would call a safari. He was very happy taking photographs of everything. He was not a thrill-seeker or anything, just enjoyed seeing the culture out there and spending time with friends he met there,” he said.
According to the inquest held at Portsmouth Guildhall, Manvell suffered multiple fractured ribs and died of a lung injury en route to hospital.
He was a retired geography teacher at Warblington School, Havant, and also worked at the Avenue Tennis and Squash Club, in the same town.