2 Women Killed After Elephant Charges During Safari

What was supposed to be a dream safari turned into a sudden and terrifying tragedy when two women were killed by an elephant in Zambia — an attack a court says unfolded “in a matter of seconds.”

Easton Taylor, 68, from Bradford, England, and her cousin Alison Taylor, 67, of New Zealand, were on a guided walking safari in South Luangwa National Park on July 3, 2025, when the deadly encounter occurred.

According to testimony presented at Bradford Coroner’s Court, the pair had set out on what was meant to be a scenic excursion. The plan was simple: walk to the Luangwa River, cross by canoe, and continue on to a remote bush camp.

But the outing took a devastating turn.

Assistant coroner Caroline Chandler told the court that an experienced guide had spotted a female elephant with a calf in the distance. At first, there was no sign of danger.

The animals appeared calm.

The group even adjusted their route to stay downwind and avoid detection.

Then everything changed.

“What happened next is described as happening in a matter of seconds,” Chandler said during the hearing.

A tracker suddenly spotted the elephant charging from behind. A warning shot was fired in an attempt to scare it off — but it didn’t work.

The elephant kept coming.

Within moments, it reached the group.

Easton, a retired chemistry teacher also known as Janice, fell during the chaos. Alison, who reportedly had mobility issues with one leg, was also unable to escape as the animal charged.

Both women were fatally crushed before anyone could intervene.

The court ruled their deaths as “misadventure,” with the official cause listed as traumatic thoracic injuries resulting from the elephant attack.

A report from Zambia’s Ministry of Tourism was reviewed during the hearing but, according to the coroner, provided little additional clarity about how the situation escalated so quickly.

Speaking to Easton’s family, Chandler acknowledged the painful uncertainty surrounding the tragedy.

“There are still a lot of unanswered questions,” she said, expressing hope the family may eventually find closure.

The safari had been organized by travel company Expert Africa, which declined to comment.