A UK coroner's court has ruled the death of a Kiwi woman and her cousin as "misadventure" after the pair were trampled by an elephant on holiday in Zambia last year.
Alison Jean-Taylor, 67, from New Zealand and her cousin Easton Janet Taylor, 68, from the UK were attacked by the female elephant that was with a calf in July, 2025.
The two women, based at Big Lagoon Bush Camp in South Luangwa National Park, were taking a safari walk to another part of the camp when the incident occurred.
Safari guides who were with the group attempted to stop the elephant from charging at the women by firing shots at it, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said at the time. The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots.
An inquest at Bradford Coroner's Court in the UK had previously been adjourned until a report had been produced from the Zambian Ministry of Tourism, BBC reported.
Assistant coroner Caroline Chandler said the report had now been received but said "unfortunately it does not add very much" and went on to return a conclusion of death by misadventure.
Chandler said: "The plan was a guided walk on foot to the Luangwa River where they would cross by canoe and continue on an onward flight to a Bush camp."
She noted the group were with an experienced guide, who spotted a female elephant with a younger, sub-adult elephant, but the animals were in the distance and "appeared peaceful".
"The guide adjusted the walk so they were down wind and remained undetected," she told the court.
What happened next was described as happening "in a matter of seconds".
"The tracker saw the elephant charging from behind and shouted towards the scout who fired a warning shot. The elephant did not stop. The elephant reached the group very quickly and Janice fell."
The inquest was told the cause of death was traumatic thoracic injuries and elephant attack.
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