Richard Hughes , private elephant keeper in United Kingdom Born 1966? in United Kingdom dead 2001-02 in United Kingdom . 2001: Richard Hughes, 34, suffered damage in February when he was butted and thrown against a fence by four- tonne female Asian elephant, Kumara. The heavily-bleeding keeper was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital, where he lost consciousness. Mr Hughes, who sustained a fractured Skull and shoulder injuries, died 11 days after the attack.
