11:25am Tuesday 10th April 2007
A MOTHER trampled to death by an elephant was originally from Malvern, it has been revealed.
The woman and her 10-year-old daughter, who also died in the attack, have been laid to rest in the area.
The funerals of Veronica and Charlotte Parker were arranged through Upton funeral director Malcolm J Presland Ltd. The company would not say where they took place, but confirmed it was somewhere in Worcestershire.
An inquest earlier in the week heard the family, who lived in Knysna in South Africa, were on a driving safari and were with a guide when the incident happened on Saturday, March 24.
Mrs Parker's husband, and Charlotte's father, Kelvin, was unhurt in the incident. The guide needed hospital treatment.
The link with Malvern was established when the Malvern Gazette spoke to Mr Parker's father, Brian Parker.
Although he was reluctant to say too much, as his son "was going through a difficult time", he said: "Veronica came from Malvern and the funeral has been arranged around there.
"She doesn't have any family that I'm aware of there, but she had friends in Malvern."
The inquest heard how Mrs Parker, aged 41, died from severe head injuries, while Charlotte suffered multiple internal injuries.
Kelvin Parker's account of what happened was read out at the inquest, which was held in Stourport on Tuesday.
Coroner Victor Round said: "He says they got out of their vehicle and they knew the right thing to do was to walk in single file towards the elephant, behind the guide.
"They got about 30 metres (98ft) from the elephant. They knew that ideally you should stay about 100 metres (328 ft) away, but the best bit of cover was at 30 metres."
They were about to return to their car when the elephant, which was in musk - meaning sexually active - caught sight of the guide and immediately attacked.
"The guide fired a shot over its head," said Mr Round, "but it came on."
"The guide was injured, the elephant then attacked Veronica and then the little girl. It then turned away from Mr Parker, who has no idea why it didn't go after him."
Mr Round recorded verdicts of accidental deaths for both victims.
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