A SPANISH tourist has been killed by an elephant she was bathing at a sanctuary in Thailand.

Blanca Ojanguren García was washing the animal when it gruesomely drove its tusk into her.

The attack caused injuries from which Blanca could not be save and the student later died.

The 22-year-old was bathing the animal at Koh Yao Elephant Care centre on the island of Yao Yai, Clarin reports.

Blanca reportedly passed in front of the animal when it attacked.

Blanca was a student at the University of Navarra and was in Thailand on an academic exchange.

She was with her boyfriend at the time.

Washing elephants is a popular activity at some sanctuaries in Thailand.

Experts told Clarín the elephant had likely become stressed due to interacting with tourists.

Some 4,000 elephants live in sanctuaries, national parks, and nature reserves in Thailand.

There are a similar number of domesticated elephants which are used in tourist shows.

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