The gruesome moment a first-time bullfighter was gored to death has been captured in a heartbreaking clip.
A 22-year-old bullfighter making his debut in front of almost 7,000 people died after fighting in the Campo Pequeno bullring in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.
The young man, Manuel Maria Trindade, stared down a 1,500-pound bull shortly before his death, which was witnessed by the thousands of spectators, as per Correio da Manhã.
Several other fighters attempted to step in and help Trindade, but the bull could not be stopped.
As the new performer started running toward the animal, it began to charge forward, and Trindade was left hesitant.
He tried to grab its horns to slow it down, but instead, the bull hoisted him up by its horns and carried him all the way to the other side of the ring.
As fellow fighters attempted to save his life, the bull continued to attack the helpless 22-year-old.
They eventually got it to move by pulling on its tail and shining lights in its eyes.
Medical staff rushed to treat Trindade at the hospital, but he suffered traumatic head injuries and was declared brain dead when he arrived.
He also suffered cardiorespiratory arrest, and died on Saturday (August 23).
But Trindade wasn’t the only one who died following the attack.
A 73-year-old orthopedic surgeon, who was in the audience, also fell ill soon after the horrific episode.
He later died at a hospital, after suffering an aortic aneurysm.
It has not yet been confirmed whether the trauma of witnessing the brutal death prompted it.
The Portuguese animal rights political party (PAN) and its supporters have been slammed by the 22-year-old victim’s mother, who called them out for ‘laughing’ at her son’s death.
Addressing the trolls in a letter, she said: “I want to thank you for all your applause, laughter, and rejoicing over my son’s death.
“Did you know him well enough to be happy about his death? Do you know if he liked animals?”
She added: “My son belonged to a group of brothers who wear a jacket with honor and bravery.
“These groups never harmed a bull; they handled it skillfully!”
Portuguese bullfighting, unlike its infamous Spanish variation, is a bloodless sport where the object is not to kill the animal.
But despite being less cruel, there have still been calls from animal rights groups to ban the sport altogether.
During Portuguese bullfighting, there is usually leather attached to the horns of the bull, making it easier for the performer to grip onto.
However, it’s not yet known if this was the case in Friday’s tragedy.
