Horror moment top Portuguese bullfighter killed as animal rams him against wall

A youngbullfighterhas tragically been killed in his first contest after being picked up by the horns and rammed against the wall of the arena.

Manuel Maria Trindade, 22, was filmed as he stood in front of the bull at Lisbon’s Campo Pequeno and then ran towards it to provoke the 700kg animal into charging. But when he tried to grab one of the horns, he was thrown into the air and then crushed against a wall as thousands of people watched on.

Screams could be heard from the crowd as Trindade lay on the ground and other bullfighters were able to control the animals.

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Paramedics rushed out to treat him and it is understood that he was initially stabilised despite suffering severe head injuries. He was taken to Sao Jose Hospital and placed in an artificial coma but sadly his condition deteriorated and he died on August 23.

Trinidade had become well-known as an upcoming ‘forcado’ - the name given to a Portuguese fighter whose role it is to provoke the bull into charging.

When the bull is angered, traditionally there are eight forcados who form a line and attempt one-by-one to jump onto the animal with the aim of then bringing it under control.

It is different to Spanish bullfighting where the animal is killed by the matador, as this was banned in Portugal by a royal law dating back to 1836. It means that bulls are later slaughtered although celebrated bulls are put out to stud.

Adding to the tragedy at the Campo Pequeno in Lisbon, a 73-year-old man also died as he watched the distressing scenes. Vasco Morais Batista, an elderly orthopedic surgeon from the Aveiro region, had seen Trindade being rammed against the wall by the bull. He was treated by paramedics before being rushed to the Santa Maria Hospital where an aortic aneurysm was detected and he could not be saved.

The debate about bullfighting continues to rage in countries where it is part of their tradition and there are many protests by people calling it animal cruelty. Amid many harsh comments about the 22-year-old's death, his mother, Alzira Trindade hit back to say he was an "animal lover".

She wrote on Facebook: "I thank you for all your applause, all the laughs and joys over the death of my son. Did you all know him to be so happy about his death? Did you know if he liked animals?

"Just in case YES! We've always had dogs and they're part of our family, they slept with him, when he came home they played with him... animals know who the good people are!!! My son belonged to a group of brothers who wore the jacket with honour, with bravery. They never hurt a bull, they handled him with art!"