British Educator and New Zealand Cousin, Both 67, Tragically Killed by Charging Elephant During Zambian Walking Safari, Inquest Reveals

A retired British teacher and her cousin tragically lost their lives in Zambia after being trampled by an elephant while on safari, a coroner has determined.

Janet Taylor Easton, 67, and her cousin Alison Taylor, also 67, from New Zealand, were killed on July 3 of last year in South Luangwa National Park.

Known by her friends as Janice, Easton had been a chemistry teacher at Titus Salt School in Baildon, Bradford, before retiring in August 2022.

Bradford Coroner’s Court heard the verdict from Assistant Coroner Caroline Chandler on Tuesday. The inquest, which had been delayed pending a report from the Zambian Ministry of Tourism, concluded with the coroner’s findings.

According to a report by the BBC, Chandler noted that the Zambian report offered little new information and ultimately ruled the deaths as a tragic misadventure.

The inquest heard Ms Easton and her cousin had gone on a walking safari holiday to South Luangwa National Park, which had been organised by travel company Expert Africa. 

Ms Chandler said the women had planned to go on a guided walk to the Luangwa River, where they would cross by canoe and continue on an onward flight to a Bush camp.

The inquest was told the group were accompanied by a guide and followed by a tracker. 

Janet Taylor Easton, 67, was killed alongside her cousin Alison Taylor from New Zealand, also 67, in South Luangwa National Park on July 3 last year. Pictured: Alison Taylor

Safari guides who were with the group fired shots at the elephant in a desperate attempt to stop it from charging at the women (file photo)

Ms Chandler said the guide spotted a female elephant with a younger elephant, but the animals were in the distance and ‘appeared peaceful’.

‘The guide adjusted the walk so they were downwind and remained undetected,’ she said.

But what happened next occurred in ‘a matter of seconds,’ she said. 

‘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 an elephant attack.

Recording her conclusion, Chandler said: ‘Janice was on a walking safari and went out with all intent and purpose on what she intended to be a lovely excursion that day. She certainly didn’t anticipate that it would end in the way that it very sadly did.’

The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots, but the guides were unable to prevent the attack, and both women died at the scene.

The pair of tourists had stayed for four days in the camp, and they were heading to another camp named Takwela Camp before the attack.

A local posted a tribute to the two women. ‘Near Big Lagoon Bush Camp, at sunrise, a walk meant to explore turned sorrowful when a nursing elephant, accompanied by her calf, charged out of instinct,’ they said.

‘Despite the presence of trained guides, the moment unfolded too swiftly.’

The pair ‘had spent four peaceful days immersed in nature’s embrace. Their journey was meant to continue – but instead, we remember them for their courage, their curiosity, and their love for life’s wild places’, they added.

According to the South Luangwa National Park website, the region’s concentration of animals is one of the densest in all of Africa.

Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats.