The distressed creature had been trapped in a mud pool for three days at the Born Free Foundation's orphaned elephant base in Udawalawe, Sri Lanka.

The front bucket of the JCB 3CX backhoe loader was used after vets successfully hauled the animal from the pool, but were unable to coax it to its feet.

JCB gave the digger to the charity last year to use for construction work.

'Most extraordinary'

Two rescuers stood in the front bucket of the machine, holding a rope tied around the elephant's neck and shoulder.

The pair were lifted up in the shovel of the machine and the animal was gradually hoisted to a standing position.

The young bull then wandered off into the bush and was last seen three days later, apparently in good health.

Dr Suhada Jayewardene, head vet and manager of the Elephant Transit Home, said: "JCBs are extremely versatile machines but I have never heard of one being used before to give a sick wild elephant a much-needed lift."

A spokesman for JCB, based in Rocester, near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, said: "JCB machines are used for many unusual tasks throughout the world but this has to count as one of the most extraordinary."