Partially deaf British bird watcher crushed to death by elephant that he didn't hear coming up behind him as he took photos
- Colin Manvell, 68, from Havant, Hampshire, died at the Masinagudi National Park, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India
- A forest warden said he didn't see an elephant which knocked him over with its trunk then trampled him on the ground
- A guide said Mr Manvell was a softly-spoken bird photographer who knew the park and its animals well
By RICHARD SHEARS PUBLISHED: 10:20 GMT, 20 September 2013 | UPDATED: 14:45 GMT, 20 September 2013
A keen British bird watcher who was partially deaf has been trampled to death by an elephant in an Indian forest he has been visiting for years. Colin Manvell, 68, from Havant, Hampshire, suffered fatal injuries when the large elephant knocked him to the ground with its trunk and then stomped on him in the Masinagudi forest in Tamil Nadu, southern India.It is believed the keen tennis player and retired geography teacher may not have heard the elephant approaching.
Keen photographer Colin Manvell, 68, (left) was taking pictures of the animals in a southern Indian reserve when he was trampled to death by an elephant
The retired teacher, 68, suffered serious injuries and died before he reached medical attention from a doctor
The Foreign Office confirmed the death, saying: 'We are aware of the tragic death of a British national in southern India and we are providing consular assistance at this difficult time.'Police said that Mr Manvell had arrived in India on September 13 and met up with his local guide, M. Kumar, on Wednesday in Masinagudi, checking into a private home as all resorts were booked. Kumar told AFP: 'After lunch on Thursday, sir (Mr Manvell) went out on foot for bird watching near a lake which is a watering hole of wild elephants. 'When he did not return by 4.15pm, we followed his trail and heard the sounds of a tusker (elephant) trumpeting loudly.' According to the forest warden, Gnanadoss, who uses only one name, Mr Manvell apparently did not notice the adult male elephant move up to him until it was too late.'It swiped him with its trunk and then trampled him on the ground,' said the warden.Gnanadoss said the tragedy occurred just 100 yards from a site where a woman was killed by elephants in 2009.
Wild: Elephant roam wild in Masinagudi National Park, where reports say tourists tried to warn the man before he was trampled
Treks: Tourists can go on treks in Masinagudi National Park, pictured, to see the diverse wildlife in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu
Bleeding profusely from his severe injuries, Mr Manvell was rushed to a local hospital - but there was no doctor on duty to treat him. His desperate helpers then had to drive him to a medical facility in Cuddalore city, more than 14 miles away, but he died on the way. Kumar said Mr Manvell had been visiting Masinagudi forest in February and September every year for the past five years. 'He was a soft-spoken photographer of the birds,' he said.
'Given the problem with his hearing, it is no surprise that he failed to hear an elephant approaching from behind. It's a tragedy' - friend Michael Isaacs. 'He knew his way all around here. He was aware of the wild elephants and also the other dangers that lurk in the local jungles. This is tragic.'Mr Manvell's brother today described news of his his death as a 'massive shock'.Derek Manvell, 74, from Portsmouth, Hants, confirmed Colin was visiting a tour guide in India who he travelled with twice a year.The retired car workshop manager added: 'I only arrived back from France on holiday last night and this has all come as a massive shock to me.
'Everyone he knows - from former students to members of the tennis club - have nothing but good words to say about him.'Without doubt his biggest love was tennis and he's been involved with the club for years.'He's held just about every position in office there - including president. His current post was overseeing the management of the courts.'He was so generous - he used to make curries for the whole club team when they had matches. He was that kind of guy.'
The retired geography teacher loved to travel and was a keen photographer
He had been visiting a tour guide in India whom he travelled with twice a year when the fatal elephant attack happened
Generous: Mr Manvell's brother described his sibling as 'generous;' saying he would make curries for the whole of his tennis club team when they had matches
Mr Manvell's brother Derek, said without a doubt, Colin's biggest love was tennis and he had been involved in his local tennis club for years
A friend of Mr Manvell today revealed the retired teacher was partially deaf and may not have heard the elephant charging at him. Leisure company director Michael Isaacs, 62, knew Mr Manvell through his involvement in the Portsmouth and District Lawn Tennis Association.`Mr Isaacs is association secretary and Mr Manvell was treasurer.Mr Isaacs said: 'I've known Colin for a few years through his involvement in the LTA.'I was distraught to hear he had died in such an horrific way.'I remember him asking people to speak up or direct their conversation towards one side because he had a problem with his hearing in one ear.'You had to make it clear you were speaking to him in committee meetings.'Given the problem with his hearing, it is no surprise that he failed to hear an elephant approaching from behind.'It's a tragedy.'Mr Manvell was a member - and former president and champion - of The Avenue Lawn Tennis Club in his home town of Havant, Hants.His nephew Roger Manvell is the tennis professional at the club, which traces its history back to 1902.
The man was trampled to death by the elephant in Masinagudi National Park, shown in red, south west of Bangalore
Fellow member Angie Brown today said: 'He was a very good tennis player and had been a club member for years.'He was a well-respected member of the club. He will be greatly missed.' Writing on a travel blog, Colin Manvell described himself as: 'A retired geography teacher with a passion of travelling, meeting local people and experiencing wildlife and exotic locations.'A neighbour today said Mr Manvell was travelling alone on the three week trek and had left home ten days ago.They said the 5ft 10in jetsetter would visit the country a couple of times a year to pursue his interests in bird watching and photography.The keen gardener spent his retirement tending to other people's gardens and was well respected in his neighbourhood.Neighbour Richard Acton, 49, an assistant highway engineer, said he used to be taught geography by Mr Manvell.He said: 'He had a wonderful rapport with former students and would often attend reunions.
'My kids, aged ten and 11, would often kick balls over the fence and he'd always laugh and give them back.'They're going to be so upset.' A spokesman for Warblington School, in Havant, confirmed Mr Manvell was the former head of geography there but had retired about 15 years ago.An inspector at Masinagudi police station told the Times of India that officers had not yet inspected the area where the man was killed.He said: 'We will be able to ascertain whether the place is a reserve forest area or social forestry area only after we inspect the spot where the unfortunate incident happened. 'We will inspect the place overnight and will register a case accordingly.'Indian elephants can grow to a height of 11ft and can weigh up to five tons.There are some 25,000 wild elephants in India but their numbers are dwindling because of poaching and the destruction of their habitats. Masinagudi forest also contains a protected tiger reserve and is popular with wildlife enthusiasts.
Keen photographer Colin Manvell, 68, (left) was taking pictures of the animals in a southern Indian reserve when he was trampled to death by an elephant
The retired teacher, 68, suffered serious injuries and died before he reached medical attention from a doctor
The Foreign Office confirmed the death, saying: 'We are aware of the tragic death of a British national in southern India and we are providing consular assistance at this difficult time.'Police said that Mr Manvell had arrived in India on September 13 and met up with his local guide, M. Kumar, on Wednesday in Masinagudi, checking into a private home as all resorts were booked. Kumar told AFP: 'After lunch on Thursday, sir (Mr Manvell) went out on foot for bird watching near a lake which is a watering hole of wild elephants. 'When he did not return by 4.15pm, we followed his trail and heard the sounds of a tusker (elephant) trumpeting loudly.' According to the forest warden, Gnanadoss, who uses only one name, Mr Manvell apparently did not notice the adult male elephant move up to him until it was too late.'It swiped him with its trunk and then trampled him on the ground,' said the warden.Gnanadoss said the tragedy occurred just 100 yards from a site where a woman was killed by elephants in 2009.
Wild: Elephant roam wild in Masinagudi National Park, where reports say tourists tried to warn the man before he was trampled
Treks: Tourists can go on treks in Masinagudi National Park, pictured, to see the diverse wildlife in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu
Bleeding profusely from his severe injuries, Mr Manvell was rushed to a local hospital - but there was no doctor on duty to treat him. His desperate helpers then had to drive him to a medical facility in Cuddalore city, more than 14 miles away, but he died on the way. Kumar said Mr Manvell had been visiting Masinagudi forest in February and September every year for the past five years. 'He was a soft-spoken photographer of the birds,' he said.
'Given the problem with his hearing, it is no surprise that he failed to hear an elephant approaching from behind. It's a tragedy' - friend Michael Isaacs. 'He knew his way all around here. He was aware of the wild elephants and also the other dangers that lurk in the local jungles. This is tragic.'Mr Manvell's brother today described news of his his death as a 'massive shock'.Derek Manvell, 74, from Portsmouth, Hants, confirmed Colin was visiting a tour guide in India who he travelled with twice a year.The retired car workshop manager added: 'I only arrived back from France on holiday last night and this has all come as a massive shock to me.
'Everyone he knows - from former students to members of the tennis club - have nothing but good words to say about him.'Without doubt his biggest love was tennis and he's been involved with the club for years.'He's held just about every position in office there - including president. His current post was overseeing the management of the courts.'He was so generous - he used to make curries for the whole club team when they had matches. He was that kind of guy.'
The retired geography teacher loved to travel and was a keen photographer
He had been visiting a tour guide in India whom he travelled with twice a year when the fatal elephant attack happened
Generous: Mr Manvell's brother described his sibling as 'generous;' saying he would make curries for the whole of his tennis club team when they had matches
Mr Manvell's brother Derek, said without a doubt, Colin's biggest love was tennis and he had been involved in his local tennis club for years
A friend of Mr Manvell today revealed the retired teacher was partially deaf and may not have heard the elephant charging at him. Leisure company director Michael Isaacs, 62, knew Mr Manvell through his involvement in the Portsmouth and District Lawn Tennis Association.`Mr Isaacs is association secretary and Mr Manvell was treasurer.Mr Isaacs said: 'I've known Colin for a few years through his involvement in the LTA.'I was distraught to hear he had died in such an horrific way.'I remember him asking people to speak up or direct their conversation towards one side because he had a problem with his hearing in one ear.'You had to make it clear you were speaking to him in committee meetings.'Given the problem with his hearing, it is no surprise that he failed to hear an elephant approaching from behind.'It's a tragedy.'Mr Manvell was a member - and former president and champion - of The Avenue Lawn Tennis Club in his home town of Havant, Hants.His nephew Roger Manvell is the tennis professional at the club, which traces its history back to 1902.
The man was trampled to death by the elephant in Masinagudi National Park, shown in red, south west of Bangalore
Fellow member Angie Brown today said: 'He was a very good tennis player and had been a club member for years.'He was a well-respected member of the club. He will be greatly missed.' Writing on a travel blog, Colin Manvell described himself as: 'A retired geography teacher with a passion of travelling, meeting local people and experiencing wildlife and exotic locations.'A neighbour today said Mr Manvell was travelling alone on the three week trek and had left home ten days ago.They said the 5ft 10in jetsetter would visit the country a couple of times a year to pursue his interests in bird watching and photography.The keen gardener spent his retirement tending to other people's gardens and was well respected in his neighbourhood.Neighbour Richard Acton, 49, an assistant highway engineer, said he used to be taught geography by Mr Manvell.He said: 'He had a wonderful rapport with former students and would often attend reunions.
'My kids, aged ten and 11, would often kick balls over the fence and he'd always laugh and give them back.'They're going to be so upset.' A spokesman for Warblington School, in Havant, confirmed Mr Manvell was the former head of geography there but had retired about 15 years ago.An inspector at Masinagudi police station told the Times of India that officers had not yet inspected the area where the man was killed.He said: 'We will be able to ascertain whether the place is a reserve forest area or social forestry area only after we inspect the spot where the unfortunate incident happened. 'We will inspect the place overnight and will register a case accordingly.'Indian elephants can grow to a height of 11ft and can weigh up to five tons.There are some 25,000 wild elephants in India but their numbers are dwindling because of poaching and the destruction of their habitats. Masinagudi forest also contains a protected tiger reserve and is popular with wildlife enthusiasts.
