A Sri Lankan man has been trampled to death by an elephant after he tried to hypnotise it.

Video footage shows the unnamed man walking up to a wild male elephant grazing in a forest clearing.

He then gestures to get the huge animal's attention, after which it begins charging at him.

Video shows the man walking up to the grazing elephant near Yala National Park, southern Sri Lanka, and getting its attention, after which is charges at him

In what is said to have been an attempt to 'hypnotise' the elephant and stop it in its tracks, the man does not run away.

The elephant knocks the man to the ground and tramples him to death on the spot.

The incident took place in Kataragama near Yala National Park in southern Sri Lanka.

The man then tries to 'hypnotise' the animal to stop in its tracks as it runs towards him

Even as the elephant comes up close, he does not run away, and ends up being trampled to death by the huge animal

Human interaction with wild elephants is not uncommon in the area as expansion of infrastructure and homes has destroyed the animals natural habitat.

The local forestry department have been made aware of the incident and said they are supporting the family.