A woman has tragically lost her life while bathing an elephant at an animal sanctaury in Thailand, local police have confirmed.
Blanca Ojanguren García, 22, was washing the elephant last Friday at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre when the animal, described as “panic-stricken,” pushed her.
García, from Spain, fell and struck her head. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, she later succumbed to her injuries, per the New York Post.
García, a law and international relations student at Spain’s University of Navarra, had been living in Taiwan as part of a student exchange program. She and her boyfriend had arrived in Thailand on December 26, 2024, for a vacation.
Her boyfriend witnessed the tragic incident firsthand.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated that the Spanish consulate in Bangkok is providing support to García’s family during this difficult time.