Animal carer, 40, was giving elephant a wash in Kerala, southern India

He whipped the elephant to force it to sit, and ended up slipping as he did so

Arun Panikkar fell underneath the elephant, which ended up crushing his skull

This is the shocking moment an animal carer was accidentally crushed to death by an elephant after he whipped it so hard he lost his balance and fell underneath it.

Video footage shows Arun Panikkar, 40, washing the elephant in his care in Karappuzha in Kottayam district of Kerala in southern India.

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He is seen trying to make the elephant lie down in order to clean its back, but the animal is reluctant.

Arun Panikkar, 40, was caning the elephant's side to get it to lie down, and whipped it so hard he lost his balance and fell underneath the animal as it sat down in Kerala, southern India

Mr Panikkar hits it with a stick, but as he does so, he slips and falls, just as the animal sits down.

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The CCTV footage shows the elephant crushing Mr Panikkar underneath him.

Another man who is off-camera is seen rushing into view and attempts to move the huge elephant, without luck.

This photo shows the moment Mr Panikkar falls and ends up underneath the huge animal

A colleague came to Mr Panikkar's aid, but despite his efforts he was unable to save his life

Eventually he uses a huge stick to persuade the animal to stand up, and is then seen pulling the elephant carer from underneath its body.

But by this time it was too late, and the later examination confirmed Mr Panikkar had been killed instantly.

An investigation is being carried out into the tragedy involving the elephant, which was reportedly owned by a local hospital trust.