Russian Tourists Flee for Lives as Elephant Rips Car Door in Sri Lanka Safari Chaos
A family holiday in Sri Lanka turned into a heart-stopping nightmare for a group of Russian tourists when a massive elephant violently attacked their vehicle during a safari, forcing them to run for their lives. The terrifying incident, which left the tourists shaken but miraculously unharmed, unfolded after one of them attempted to offer food to the wild animal, sparking a dangerous confrontation.
The Terrifying Attack Unfolds
The three-tonne elephant approached the tourists' Suzuki Every Wagon while they were observing wildlife in Sri Lanka. In a shocking display of strength, the beast began viciously rocking the micro-van, lifting two wheels off the ground in an apparent attempt to tip it over. Panic ensued as the family filmed themselves fleeing the scene, with the elephant using its powerful trunk to tear off the car door completely.
The chaos escalated when the animal, seeking more fruit from inside the vehicle after being offered food by one tourist, became increasingly aggressive. Two terror-stricken family members fled from the opposite side of the Suzuki, fearing for their lives as the situation grew more dangerous by the second.
Dramatic Escape and Intervention
Among those fleeing was an eleven-year-old boy who had to escape without his shoes in the frantic scramble to safety. The elephant only retreated when another tourist vehicle approached the commotion and sounded its horn, while a warning shot was heard being fired in an attempt to ward off the huge animal.
Shaken tourist Liliya Mikhailovskaya, from Kazan in southwest Russia, recounted the harrowing experience afterwards. 'We almost lost our lives,' she said. 'We were driving up to an elephant, a wild elephant. We will never forget this trip to Sri Lanka.'
Aftermath and Reflection
Liliya, 43, who was with her husband Maxim Mikhailovsky, 42, their son, and another traveller, described how quickly the situation deteriorated. 'Just a couple of minutes earlier I was recording a video, completely unaware that a sweet feeding moment would turn into such chaos,' she revealed. 'Now that's another phobia added to the collection!'
The family suffered practical consequences from the attack as well. 'Our son ran barefoot along the road, and the car was left without a door,' Liliya explained. '[An elephant] can trample you at any moment. We certainly did not expect an ending like this!'
Miraculously, no one was injured in the incident, though the family's phone was smashed to pieces during the chaos. 'Thank God there's protective glass,' they noted about the damaged device.
Continuing Their Journey
Despite the traumatic experience and damage to their rented Suzuki, the group was able to drive away afterwards – albeit without the ripped-off door. The shocked party heard the sound of a gunshot during the intervention and remarked: 'Oh, now they're scaring the elephant! This is just total madness.'
The clearly traumatised group had been put off sightseeing for the rest of the day, with one saying: 'We don't want to watch [the elephants] anymore! Thank you, Lord, we're alive! Today we will go instead to the main temple.'
Liliya reflected on their narrow escape: 'Thank God, everything worked out, but we're all in such shock, we're driving on now… We're reliving it all and never cease to thank the Almighty.' The family's holiday in Sri Lanka will undoubtedly be remembered for reasons far beyond typical tourist experiences, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers of interacting with wild animals in their natural habitat.
