Charging elephant kills BBC guide in Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - An elephant killed a British man working as an expedition guide for a British Broadcasting Corporation children's channel filming in Tanzania, the BBC and an embassy official said.

The BBC reported on its Web site late on Friday that 38-year-old Anton Turner, an experienced guide, wildlife ranger and former army officer, was helping film an episode of the CBBC series Serious Explorers when he was attacked.

The show being filmed is tracing the footsteps of 19th century explorer David Livingstone on the continent.

"We understand at this stage that he was charged by an elephant and was mortally injured," the BBC quoted one of its spokeswomen as saying in a story on its Web site.

John Bradshaw, spokesman at the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam, said the Tanzanian authorities had contacted them about the incident.

"We are aware of that. Because the deceased person is British, we have been helping, offering consular assistance," he told Reuters by phone.

The BBC said three children with the film crew were safe and had been airlifted from the area.