A South African man died over the weekend after being trampled by an elephant while he tried to save his grandson at the country’s Kruger National Park.

Shaik Adam Shabir Ammed, 59, was with his family near a reception area in the park Saturday when children with them ran into the bush and were charged by an elephant from a herd nearby, South African National Parks officials said in a release. 

Ammed went to retrieve his two grandchildren, a 5-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy. The elephant struck the boy’s legs with his trunk, causing injuries, while the girl was unharmed.

“It was during this time when the grandfather went to assist that the elephant turned and trampled on him before it left them and returned into the Kruger national park premises,” South African Police Service Lt. Col. Jabu Ndubane told the Daily Maverick.  

Family member Mohammad Shah told the Lowvelder that the family was devastated.

The elephant responsible for Ammed’s death wasn’t identified at the time of the attack, since it was one of several nearby and moved away from the scene when people rushed to help Ammed, South African National Parks officials said.

If park officials can figure out which elephant trampled Ammed and if it continues showing aggressive behaviors, it will be put down, Kruger National Park Manager of Communications and Marketing Ike Phaahla told the Daily Maverick.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.