A rescue worker has told of the moving moment a baby elephant came round while he gave it CPR in Thailand.
The young calf had been hit by a motorcycle and was crying in pain on a dark road when off-duty Mana Srivate sprung into action.
A viral video shows him successfully resuscitating the animal, thought to be just a month old, in the eastern province of Chanthaburi on Saturday. Mana is seen giving two-handed compressions to the small elephant, as it lies on its side, while colleagues a few metres away treat a dazed motorcyclist. Neither had serious injuries and they are now recovering, while the elephant was later reunited with its mum.
Mana, who has been a rescue worker for 26 years, told Reuters: ‘It’s my instinct to save lives, but I was worried the whole time because I can hear the mother and other elephants calling for the baby.
‘I assumed where an elephant heart would be located based on human theory and a video clip I saw online.
‘When the baby elephant starting to move, I almost cried.’
Meanwhile, reports said motorbike rider Anan Cherdsoongnern, 53, was recovering in hospital after being flung through the air and hitting the ground some 20 feet away.
Despite having dealt with dozens of road traffic accidents involving humans, Mana said the elephant was the only victim he had managed to revive while performing CPR.
The elephant stood up after about 10 minutes and was taken to another location for treatment, before being returned to the scene of the accident in the hope of being reunited with its mother.
Its family arrived when the mum heard her baby calling out, Mana said.
In the footage, the animal can be seen being put on a rope, presumably to stop it from running away.
There was no footage of the youngster being reunited with its family.
Another rescuer, called Lek, explained: ‘It was dark when the crash happened. We think the young elephant was scared by something and ran into the road’, Viral press reported.
‘It was such a nerve-wracking moment. I’m glad the baby survived its injuries and is together with its mother now.’
The baby elephant was crying loudly after the crash, alerting staff at the nearby Forest Fire Control office, Viral press reported.
A passing driver then called the emergency services and paramedics raced to the scene to find the baby starting to lose consciousness, before Mana took the decision to give it CPR.