An elephant trainer (mahout) in India has been crushed to death by an elephant after he savagely beat it to make it lie down.

CCTV footage of the incident shows elephant carer Arun Panikkar washing an elephant owned by a local hospital trust.

Mr Panikkar was trying to make the beast lie down so he could wash it, but the elephant refused to cooperate. He then lashed out, hitting the placid animal with his stick.

Unfortunately, he struck the elephant so violently he lost his footing on the wet floor and fell on the ground under the pachyderm.

source: newshub.co.nz