Video shows Thai man halting charging elephant with hand

A dramatic video shows a man holding his ground and nonchalantly raising his hand as an elephant charges him in a jungle in Thailand.

The tactic worked as the pachyderm stopped his advance and retreated. The harrowing incident took place Feb. 28 at the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in northern Thailand.

According to the New York Daily News, the courageous (or perhaps simply lucky) man who thwarted the elephant is Tor Bowling, a 27-year-old engineer from Chonburi, Thailand. He told the newspaper that he when he first saw the enormous animal, the two had a long staring contest and when he tried to retreat, the elephant inched closer.

Bowling told the Daily News that when the animal finally rushed toward him, extending his arm was just instinct.

He told the newspaper that although he was scared when the elephant charged, he was "sure" it didn't want to hurt him.

If he was afraid, Bowling certainly didn't show it, Seconds after the close call, he turned to his friend, who was filming the encounter, and chuckled.