A tourist was trampled to death “within seconds” by a charging elephant in an incident recorded as an unfortunate incident.
Janet Taylor Easton, 67, died while hunting with her cousin Alison Taylor, 67, from New Zealand in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park on July 3 last year.
The inquest at Bradford Coroner’s Court had previously been suspended pending a report from the Zambian Ministry of Tourism.
Assistant coroner Caroline Chandler said a report had been received but said “unfortunately it didn’t add much” and later returned a conclusion of accidental death.
Ms Easton, also known as Janice, taught chemistry at Titus Salt School in Beldon, Bradford, from September 1983 until her retirement in August 2022.
She subsequently traveled extensively, including New Zealand, Canada and Brazil.
The inquest heard Easton and her cousin went on a hiking holiday in South Luangwa National Park, a trip organized by travel company Expert Africa.
On the day she died, the inquest heard she was on a guided walk and the pair left the camp early to attend a safety briefing.
“The plan is to walk with a guide to the Luangwa River where they will cross the river in a canoe and then continue to Bush Camp,” Chandler said.
warning shot
The inquest heard the group were accompanied by a guide, also known as a scout, followed by a tracker – a skilled person who guides tourists through the African wilderness.
Chandler said the guide spotted a female elephant and a young sub-adult, but the animals were far away and “seemed peaceful.”
“The tour guide adjusted the walking route so that they could go with the wind and not be detected,” she said.
“What happened next has been described as occurring within seconds.
“The tracker saw the elephant charging from behind and shouted to the scout who fired a warning shot. The elephant did not stop. The elephant quickly reached the group and Janice fell.”
An inquest heard the cause of death was chest trauma and an elephant attack.
Recording her conclusion, Chandler said: “Janice was hiking, she went out with all her heart, and she was going to have a great trip that day.
“She certainly didn’t expect the sad way it would end.”
Speaking to the care of Easton’s brother, William Easton, via video link, she said: “You have a lot of unanswered questions and I hope you can get to the bottom of them so you and your family can get some closure.”
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