Media reports in China say a Canadian tourist accidentally killed a 73-year-old woman while they were both visiting one of the country's top tourist attractions.

The South China Morning Post reports a 38-year-old Canadian, whose name was not released, knocked the elderly woman to the ground while she was rushing down a flight of stairs at the Great Wall of China in Beijing.

The victim's husband told local media that the Canadian was chasing someone down the stairs when she collided with his wife.

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Reports say the woman was immediately knocked unconscious after striking her head on a corner of the wall and stopped breathing soon afterwards.

The Post cites a police report concluding that the death was an accident but urging the family to seek compensation through civil channels.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says it's providing consular assistance to a Canadian in China and seeking information from local authorities, but declined to offer further details.

The incident took place on Wednesday in front of at least two of the elderly woman's family members, reports said.

Her husband offered a vivid description of how the accident unfolded.

"The foreigner was moving really fast. She was chasing [someone] and laughing and wanted to go between me and my wife," the husband was quoted as saying.

The victim's son said his mother was in good health before the accident.