In a heart-stopping encounter on a Sri Lankan safari, a group of Russian tourists experienced sheer terror when their vehicle was attacked by an elephant. The incident unfolded after one of the tourists unwisely attempted to offer food to the massive creature.

The three-ton elephant charged at the group, who were in the midst of observing wildlife, turning their leisurely excursion into a desperate bid for survival. Their Suzuki Every Wagon was violently rocked as the elephant, seemingly intent on tipping it over, lifted two of its wheels off the ground. The family captured their frantic escape on film, their shouts for help echoing through the air.

In a dramatic display of strength, the elephant used its trunk to rip the door off the micro-van, rummaging for more fruit after being enticed by the initial offering. Faced with this sudden aggression, two members of the frightened family swiftly exited the vehicle from the opposite side, managing to evade the elephant’s wrath just in time.

The tense standoff eventually came to an end when another tourist vehicle approached the scene, honking its horn to scare off the animal. The situation was further diffused by the sound of a warning shot, which finally drove the elephant away, allowing the shaken tourists to breathe a sigh of relief.

Two terror-stricken family members fled the Suzuki from the other side, fearing for their lives before the elephant retreated as another tourist vehicle approached the commotion and sounded its horn. 

A warning shot was also heard being fired in an attempt to ward off the huge animal. 

Among those fleeing was a boy aged 11, who had to escape without his shoes.

Shaken tourist Liliya Mikhailovskaya, from Kazan in South West Russia, said after the incident: ‘We almost lost our lives.

A three-tonne elephant in Sri Lanka is seen approaching the family inside the Suzuki 

It then proceeds to rip the door off the vehicle with its trunk, in search of more food after it was offered some by one tourist 

Lilya Mikhailovsky (pictured) was enjoying a family holiday when they were left fearing for their lives 

Lilya said: ‘We almost lost our lives… Just a couple of minutes earlier I was recording a video, completely unaware that a sweet feeding moment would turn into such chaos’

‘[We were] driving up to an elephant, a wild elephant. We will never forget this trip to Sri Lanka.

‘Just a couple of minutes earlier I was recording a video, completely unaware that a sweet feeding moment would turn into such chaos.

‘Now that’s another phobia added to the collection!’ 

She added: ‘Our son ran barefoot along the road, and the car was left without a door.

‘[An elephant] can trample you at any moment. We certainly did not expect an ending like this!’

Liliya, 43, was with her husband Maxim Mikhailovsky, 42, their son and another traveller.

‘It was so scary, the child got petrified,’ she said.

Miraculously, no one was injured in the incident. In the chaos afterwards, the family said: ‘The phone is smashed to pieces, thank God there’s protective glass.

‘We’ll drive without a door.’

The shocked party heard the sound of a gunshot and said: ‘Oh, now they’re scaring the elephant! This is just total ****ing madness.’

The group had clearly been put off sight seeing for the rest of the day, with one saying: ‘We don’t want to watch [the elephants] anymore!

‘Thank you, Lord, we’re alive! Today we will go instead to the main temple.’

Despite the damage to the rented Suzuki, they were able to drive away afterwards – without the ripped-off door however. 

Liliya said: ‘Thank God, everything worked out, but we’re all in such shock, we’re driving on now… 

‘We’re reliving it all and never cease to thank the Almighty.’