The owner of an elephant that died last night after falling down a drain while working as a tourist attraction has been arrested over the death.

Pansaa Yanamkam, 15, had taken six-year-old bull 'Nam Chok' for a walk in Samut Prakan yesterday evening where he was entertaining passers-by who paid to feed him. But at around 9pm the elephant was being led by its teenage mahout and stepped on a piece of wood covering a concrete hole, and went crashing through into the water-filled drain.

Emergency services used a crane to winch the unconscious elephant out at 9:30pm before performing CPR for two hours, administering oxygen and giving an injection to try and jump-start his heart.

Nam Chok died just before midnight local time having suffered a suspected heart attack brought on by the shock of falling down the hole, where all but one of his legs had fallen inside and his head was resting on the edge.

His owner believed the elephant might also have been electrocuted from exposed wires in the drain which connected to a nearby advertising board.

Police are now investigating the death of the elephant and have arrested the owner, Pansaa Yanamkam, on suspicion of ''moving an elephant without permission".

Lt. Col. Nopporn Saengsawang, Deputy Inspector of Bang Phil district police, said: ''Many people attended and the elephant was given oxygen and his heart was pumped. The rain was falling heavily and it was very difficult because there was no expert knowledge in treating elephants. We co-ordinated with veterinary experts to assist the treatment but we could not save him.''

The owner of an elephant that died last night after falling down a drain while working as a tourist attraction has been arrested over the death. Pansaa Yanamkam, 15, had taken six-year-old bull 'Nam Chok' for a walk in Samut Prakan yesterday evening where he was entertaining passers-by who paid to feed him. But at around 9pm the elephant was being lead by its teenage mahout and stepped on a pice of wood covering a concrete hole, and went crashing through into the water-filled drain. Emergency services used a crane to winch the unconscious elephant out at 9:30pm before performing CPR for two hours, administering oxygen and giving an injection to try and jump-start his heart. Nam Chok died just before midnight local time having suffered a suspected heart attack brought on by the shock of falling down the hole, where all but one of his legs had fallen inside and his head was resting on the edge. His owner believed the elephant might also have been electrocuted from exposed wires in the drain which connected to a nearby advertising board. Police are now investigating the death of the elephant and have arrested the owner, Pansaa Yanamkam, on suspicion of ''moving an elephant without permission''.


Lt. Col. Nopporn Saengsawang, Deputy Inspector of Bang Phil district police, said: ''Many people attended and the elephant was given oxygen and his heart was pumped. The rain was falling heavily and it was very difficult because there was no expert knowledge in treating elephants. We co-ordinated with veterinary experts to assist the treatment but we could not save him''