An elephant kicked a woman while being bathed in mud at a sanctuary in Thailand.

The jumbo was standing between a group of tourists who were spreading sludge around the sides of its body when it struck one of them at Khao Sok Elephant Sanctuary in Surat Thani province.

Footage shows the animal raising its left hind leg, which hit the woman and threw her 5ft away near a coconut tree on February 18.

The woman, Gaia Giummule, said she had a bruised knee and hurt her finger from the fall.

In some cultures and regions where elephants are found, covering an elephant's body with mud is a traditional practice. The mud also acts as a natural sunscreen and insect repellent.

Around 4,000 elephants are kept in captivity in Thailand.