Ambulance officers said the man, whose name was not released but was said to be in his sixties, died of a heart attack after sustaining back injuries during an incident that occurred while he was tending to two elephants, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Thursday.

There were no witnesses to the incident and the exact details of what occurred are not yet known.

"Undoubtedly it's very sad and our feelings all go out to the victim and the family," Clarence Valley Council Mayor Ian Tiley said. "At this time of year, there's probably three times the normal population at Yamba. It's holiday time and I guess the show must go on."

The death is under investigation.