A 55-year-old man was trampled to death and his wife and sister were injured when an elephant attacked them while they were on their way to the Velliyangiri hill shrine late last night.

According to police, Subramani and his wife and sister were part of a group of pilgrims from Puliampatti in Erode.

Around 11 p.m. the elephant appeared from the near by bushes and started chasing them. When Subramani and others were running for safety, he slipped and fell down. The pachyderm trampled him.

The body could be retrieved only today as the elephant was standing close to it till early hours, police added. His wife and sister have been admitted to the Government Hospital.