This is the heartbreaking moment a schoolgirl lies dying at a zoo after being struck on the head in a freak accident by a rock hurled at her by an elephant.
The seven-year-old was having a picture outside its enclosure with her family when the tragedy happened at the zoo in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
The female elephant, named Assia, picked up the large stone in its trunk and threw it into the air, hitting her on the back of the head.
The youngster was knocked unconscious and died in a nearby hospital after failing to overcome her injuries.
Footage taken by a bystander on a mobile phone and posted on social media showed the girl lying on the ground being tended to by staff as her anguished family gathered round her.
Schoolgirl lies dying after elephant hurls rock at her head
Local reports said the girl's dad had lifted her up on his shoulders outside the elephant enclosure so her mum could take a snap of the two of them with their back to the animals when she was struck.
A zoo spokesman offered his condolences to the girl's family but said there had been no security breaches and she had not crossed into a protective area outside the enclosure.
He insisted: 'Accidents of this type are rare, unforeseeable and unusual.
The seven-year-old was having a picture outside its enclosure with her family when the tragedy happened at the zoo in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
The female elephant, named Assia, picked up the large stone in its trunk and threw it into the air, hitting her on the back of the head.
The youngster was knocked unconscious and died in a nearby hospital after failing to overcome her injuries.
Footage taken by a bystander on a mobile phone and posted on social media showed the girl lying on the ground being tended to by staff as her anguished family gathered round her.
Schoolgirl lies dying after elephant hurls rock at her head
Local reports said the girl's dad had lifted her up on his shoulders outside the elephant enclosure so her mum could take a snap of the two of them with their back to the animals when she was struck.
A zoo spokesman offered his condolences to the girl's family but said there had been no security breaches and she had not crossed into a protective area outside the enclosure.
He insisted: 'Accidents of this type are rare, unforeseeable and unusual.
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