Axel Gautier

1: Reba (fatal attack)

1. 1993-05-05: elephant trainer Axel Gautier fatal attack by Reba. The elephant approached Gautier from behind, pushed him down with her trunk and stepped on him, the sheriff's report said. Alexander Gautier † Axel Gautier Died 1993-05-05, Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Gautier was treated at a Williston hospital for internal injuries to his chest, pelvis and abdomen and then flown to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where he died.

May 5, 1993: Axel Gautier, one of the best-known elephant trainers in the world, was crushed to death when an elephant stepped on him at the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey elephant farm in Gainesville, Florida. Gautier was standing with three elephants in a corral when a 24-year-old female Asian elephant suddenly knocked him down and stepped on him. The circus veterinarian was standing nearby.

The circus trainer crushed to death by an elephant was looking through the lens of a video camera at the time and probably did not see the 8,000-pound animal approaching from behind, deputies said Friday.

Levy County Sheriff Ted Glass said Gautier was videotaping other Adult elephants at the time, and the camera's narrow field of vision apparently prevented him from seeing the 24-year-old female Asian elephant that attacked him.

The elephant involved was not a performer and was used exclusively for breeding. Ringling spokesman Rodney Huey said there had been no previous reports of problems with the animal.

In addition to his sons, he was survived by his wife, Donna, of Venice, who used to work with him in the show; three sisters, a half- brother and a grandson.