A bullfighter has tragically died after being thrown against the wall of an arena by a bull he was teasing to end the show.
According to reports, 22-year-old Manuel Maria Trindade was making his debut at the Campo Pequeno Bullring in Lisbon, Portugal last week when this sad event happened.
Trindade was supposed to be the “forcado” during the performance, which means it was his job to get the bull to charge for the “pega de care” or “face catch” act that usually wraps up a Portuguese bullfight.
In this act, several bullfighters line up in a row, each trying to stop the charging bull and eventually bring it to a stop.
However, during the show on Friday, August 22, Trindade’s teasing made the 700kg (almost 1600lb) bull target him and charge at full speed.
A disturbing video of what happened next has been shared on social media, showing Trindade desperately trying to hold onto the bull’s horns to slow it down. Furious, the bull tossed him into the air and ignored the attempts of other bullfighters to control it.
Nearly 7,000 spectators watched in shock as the bull pushed Trindade to the edge of the arena and crashed him into the wall, causing severe head injuries.
The other bullfighters managed to gain control of the bull, while Trindade was quickly taken to the hospital and put into an induced coma. Unfortunately, he could not be saved and passed away 24 hours later due to a cardiorespiratory arrest.
According to the Daily Mail, Trindade had followed his father’s path by joining the amateur bullfighting group. This tragic incident at the Campo Pequeno arena was his first performance.
The fate of the bull remains uncertain, but Portuguese law prohibits the killing of a bull at the end of a bullfight, which is different from the rules in Spain.
Bullfighting is still allowed in many places like Spain, Portugal, France, the Philippines, and a few other countries, which makes animal rights groups very unhappy.
Earlier this month, a 35-year-old man tragically died after being gored at a bullfighting festival called ‘corraleja’ in the small town of Fundación, Magdalena, Colombia.
In videos from the event, you can see Yovanis Marquez running at the bull and trying to jump over it. The scared bull reacted by attacking, goring Marquez and throwing him into the air.
Local news says that the 35-year-old passed away from his injuries after being taken to the hospital. A witness told El Tiempo, “He got up like he was okay, but blood was everywhere. It was just a few seconds before he collapsed.”
What do you think about bullfighting? Share your thoughts in the comments.
