A 60-year old farmer was trampled to death near his house in Thoovaipathy, during the wee hours today.

The farmer, Subbayyan, had stepped out of his house to attend nature’s call. An elephant suddenly appeared from behind a bush, caught hold of him and trampled him to death with its forelegs, police said.

Hearing the elephant’s trumpet and the screams, Subbayyan’s relatives rushed out of the house and managed to scare the elephant away. Subbayyan, who was seriously injured, was rushed to the hospital, but the doctors declared him ‘brought dead.’