Muthiah was on his way to work when he came across the lone elephant. Though he tried to flee the area, the elephant chased and attacked him with its trunk, causing injuries on his abdomen and legs, police said.
However, he managed to escape from the pachyderm and was later rushed to the government hospital in Pandalur by locals.
He was then shifted to the Gudalur Government Hospital and subsequently to the Medical College Hospital in Coimbatore, police said.