Nurse Pauline Stratton was on safari when she died

A nurse from Cumbria has been trampled to death by an elephant while on a working holiday in Africa.

Pauline Stratton, 54, and from Carlisle, had been working in Malawi, which is bordered by Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

She was doing voluntary nurse training work in the south-east African nation.

The nurse was on a day-long safari break when the accident happened on Friday.

She was visiting Liwondi National Park on Friday, 2 May, when she was trampled to death.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that a British national was killed during an elephant stampede at Liwondi National Park in Malawi on 2 May.

Elephant charge

"Our consular staff are aware of the situation and stand ready to offer any assistance. Our sympathy is with the family at this time."

It is believed Mrs Stratton was with a group of rangers walking on foot through the national park when the herd of elephants charged at them.

Colleagues at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, where she was an orthopaedic nurse, have been paying tribute to her dedication and ability.