A tourist at South Africa's Kruger National Park was trampled to death by an elephant as he was trying to protect children, officials say.

A tourist was killed by an elephant on Saturday in South Africa's famous Kruger Park, the South African national parks agency SAN Parks announced overnight. "A tragic accident occurred when a tourist was charged and trampled by an elephant near Crocodile River at Malelane Gate. This, regrettably, resulted in loss of life," it said in a statement.