Pictured: Wreck of tourist car charged and overturned by elephant in South Africa's Kruger National Park

Incident happened at Kruger National Park on road at 6:30am yesterday

Polish man suffered broken ribs and Chinese woman had pelvis fracture

Officials unsure why elephant became aggressive at South African park

Two tourists visiting a national park were injured after an elephant charged and overturned their car.

The Polish man suffered broken ribs and the Chinese woman was also hurt when an elephant in the vast Kruger National Park in South Africa attacked the vehicle on a road at 6:30am yesterday.

An emergency medical team was sent by helicopter to the scene in the country’s flagship park.

Pictured: A similar attack in the park in April left two people seriously injured

Kruger National Park spokesman William Mabasa said: ‘We stay here every day. We meet elephants on the road. We basically give them space but tourists sometimes don't.’

It is unclear why the elephant became aggressive, Mr Mabasa added. He is appealing to the public to be alert in Kruger park and try not to get too close if they see an elephant approaching on the road.



More than 1million people visit Kruger each year and incidents of this sort are rare but not unheard of with the animals who can flip cars and uproot trees with ease.

The last incident of this sort took place in November 2012, when an elephant overturned a car, injuring one passenger.

Vast: The huge Kruger park lies in South Africa's north-east, next to Zimbabwe and Mozambique (file picture)

The male tourist was taken to Clinix Phalaborwa Private Hospital, near the park, and was said by an official at the hospital to be in critical condition with multiple rib fractures.

'We stay here every day. We meet elephants on the road. We basically give them space but tourists sometimes don't' William Mabasa, Kruger National Park



His female companion was also being treated there for a pelvis fracture, but her injuries were not said to be serious.

The hospital employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, added that officials planned to transfer the pair to a hospital in Pretoria.