Denouncing rumors of enraging a killer elephant by pulling its tail, several Chinese tourists have accused local authorities in Pattaya, Thailand, of not taking timely measures to save a Chinese tour guide who was trampled to death by an elephant on Dec.21.

He Yongjie, a 34-year-old Chinese tour guide, was killed in the accident, while two other tourists who had been riding the elephant sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. According to Bangkok Post, Au Bamrung, the mahout and owner of the elephant, said a foreigner provoked “Plai Uthen,” a 17-year-old male elephant, by pulling its tail, making the beat lose control.

“The elephant became angry out of blue, chasing an old Chinese lady. The guide came to help her, but was trampled to death by the beast. No one pulled the elephant’s tail,” a Chinese tourist, who did not reveal his name, told Beijing Morning Post.

Some Chinese tourists have also criticized the owners of the elephants, noting that none of them came to help He when the accident took place. When they finally did, He was lying on the ground with injuries for at least half an hour, according to Beijing Morning Post.

On Dec. 22, the Chinese embassy in Thailand urged Thai authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the accident, while local authorities claimed that there was no clear evidence showing that the beast was enraged by tail pulling.