A young bullfighter has died after being fatally gored during his debut in a packed stadium in Portugal. Manuel Maria Trindade, 22, was impaled by the horns of a 695kg bull in front of nearly 7,000 spectators at Lisbon’s packed Campo Pequeno arena. An elderly spectator reportedly died after watching the horror unfold.
The young forcado was taking part in his first tourada — a form of bullfighting that uses no protection — when he was lifted off the ground and smashed against the arena wall. The bull’s horn pierced his body and paramedics rushed him to Lisbon’s Sao Jose Hospital, where doctors placed him in an induced coma. He died hours later from cardiac arrest.
After watching the horror unfold, a 73-year-old spectator collapsed and later died at hospital due to fatal aortic aneurysm, reports the Olive Press. He was an orthopedic surgeon.
The video of the moment the bull charged and made contact with the 22-year-old has been shared online, re-sparking debate over the ethics of bullfighting.
Portuguese touradas are widely promoted as far more humane than their Spanish corrida de toros, where matadors use swords to kill the animal during the final stage, known as the estocada.
Portuguese rules strictly prohibit slaughtering the animal in the ring. This approach has made Portuguese bullfighting a more favoured version of the controversial event.
In the Portuguese event, forcados are unarmed and confront the bull with their bare hands. They use no protection, cape or weapon.
Instead, the final stage is the ‘face catch’ or pega de cara, where a team of forcados work together to subdue the charging bull using their strength. The leader is meant to grab the bull’s horns while his teammates pile on to bring the animal down.
Portuguese cavaleiros on horseback use lances to provoke charges earlier in the performance, but their weapons are not designed to kill.
In contrast, in Spain, the bullfighters use lances to weaken the bull and banderillas (decorated sticks) are plunged into their back, before a sword is thrust to their heart. Some bulls are spared.
