Gerik police chief Superintendent Ismail Che Isa (pic) said Paramanazan and his son were in the lorry heading towards Gerik when the incident took place. — Picture courtesy of Gerik police

IPOH, Feb 2 — A 69-year-old lorry driver suffered broken bones and a neck injury after he was attacked by a wild elephant near Gerik afternoon.

M. Paramanazan, from Sungai Siput Utara, was stomped by the pachyderm along KM19 of the East-West Highway at around 4.30pm after he stopped his lorry to look at the wild beast.

Gerik police chief Superintendent Ismail Che Isa said Paramanazan and his son — in his 40s — were in the lorry heading towards Gerik when the incident took place.

“According to the victim’s son, they saw the elephant when they were nearby the East-West highway monument. The victim alighted from the vehicle to take a closer look,” Ismail said in a statement sent via WhatsApp last night.

“The victim’s son said that the elephant then started chasing his father, before catching up and stomping on him.”

Ismail said the victim suffered a broken left hand and left rib, as well as a wound on his right arm.

“He is also believed to have broken one of the bones in his neck. His son brought him to the Gerik hospital for treatment,” said Ismail.

Ismail said the victim was subsequently moved to the Taiping hospital for further treatment, adding that no other parties had lodged a report over the incident.