A Spanish tourist who was attacked by an elephant during a 'bathing event' at an animal sanctuary in southern Thailand has died.

According to CNN, 22-year-old tourist Blanca Ojanguren García was attacked while bathing an elephant at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Center in southern Thailand.

According to local police, García and her boyfriend were washing an elephant when the animal suddenly panicked and injured García with its tusks. The tourist, who suffered a head injury after the elephant pushed him with its tusks, died in hospital.

The case has revived concerns about Thailand's fast-growing elephant tourism industry, which animal rights groups have long criticized as unethical and dangerous. Activists say bathing elephants disrupts their natural grooming behavior and can harm the animals, putting them under unnecessary stress.