Tourist crushed by elephant 'in matter of seconds'

The death of tourist who was trampled to death by a charging elephant "in a matter of seconds" has been recorded as misadventure.

Janet Taylor Easton, 67, died along with her cousin Alison Taylor, 67, from New Zealand, while on safari in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park on 3 July last year.

An inquest at Bradford Coroner's Court had previously been adjourned until a report had been produced from the Zambian Ministry of Tourism.

Assistant coroner Caroline Chandler said the report had now been received but said "unfortunately it does not add very much" and went on to return a conclusion of death by misadventure

Ms Easton, also known as Janice, taught chemistry at Titus Salt School in Baildon, Bradford, from September 1983 until retiring in August 2022.

She then travelled extensively, including trips to New Zealand, Canada and Brazil.

The inquest was told Easton and her cousin had gone on walking safari holiday to South Luangwa National Park, which had been organised by travel company Expert Africa.

On the day of her death, the inquest heard she was on a guided walk and the pair had left the camp early to attend a safety briefing.

Chandler said: "The plan was a guided walk on foot to the Luangwa River where they would cross by canoe and continue on an onward flight to a Bush camp."

The inquest was told the group were accompanied by a guide, also refered to as a scout, and followed by a tracker - a skilled individual who guides tourists through the African wilderness.

Chandler said the guide spotted a female elephant with a younger, sub-adult elephant, but the animals were in the distance and "appeared peaceful".

"The guide adjusted the walk so they were down wind and remained undetected," she said.

"What happened next is described as happening in a matter of seconds.

"The tracker saw the elephant charging from behind and shouted towards the scout who fired a warning shot. The elephant did not stop. The elephant reached the group very quickly and Janice fell."

The inquest was told the cause of death was traumatic thoracic injuries and elephant attack.

Recording her conclusion, Chandler said: "Janice was on a walking safari and went out with all intent and purposes on what she intended to be a lovely excursion that day.

"She certainly didn't anticipate that it would end in the way that it very sadly did."

Addressing Easton's brother William Easton, who tended via a video link, she said: "You still have a lot of unanswered questions and I hope you get to the bottom of those so you and the rest of the family can have some closure."

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