A REVELLER has been gored to death in a horrific accident at a popular festival.
The 57-year-old man was among hundreds of people at the annual Toro del Gayumbo on Sunday when a bull charged at him.
SolarpixA man has been gored to death by a bull at a popular Spanish celebration[/caption]
SolarpixHe tried in vain to get to safety by climbing railings on a ground floor apartment[/caption]
SolarpixThe terrifying incident was caught on camera[/caption]
Video footage of the shocking incident shows the unidentified local trying to hoist himself to safety beside a fellow reveller on metal railings over a ground-floor apartment.
Wearing just a T-Shirt and shorts, the man was thrown off balance when the bull knocked his shoe off.
The animal charged at him and dumped him to the ground, before he was gored several times.
The man was left critically injured and rushed to a nearby health centre after the ordeal.
His death was confirmed at 8pm on Sunday evening.
He is yet to be identified.
The picturesque town of Ubrique in Spain‘s southwest was celebrating the tenth annual event of Toro del Gayumbo.
Two bulls were released onto the streets as part of the celebrations, one at 12.30pm and the other at 6.30pm.
The second bull, named Mosquetero, meaning Musketeer in English, was the animal that charged at the man.
In a statement, town hall officials declared a day of mourning on Monday to coincide with the day of their patron saint.
“We would like to express our sincere condolences and solidarity with the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased,” the statement said.
“We would also like to announce that, as a sign of respect, tonight’s fireworks display has been cancelled.
“In addition, flags on public buildings will fly at half-mast tomorrow as a sign of mourning,” they continued.
The officials asked for “understanding, calm and cooperation from all residents and visitors”.
“The best way to show support is through prudence and respect,” they said.
“Ubrique has always been characterised by its unity in difficult times. Today, more than ever, we must demonstrate this.”
SolarpixThe 57-year-old local has yet to be identified[/caption]
SolarpixA day of mourning was announced after the man died in hospital[/caption]
The incident has drawn the ire from locals, demonstrated by Isabel Carrasco Romero who said: “This would have been a preventable death if our council did not promote these kinds of backward events under the guise of tradition”.
“My deepest condolences to the family of our deceased neighbour,” she said.
“I am very old and until a few years ago, it was never traditional to release a bull down a short slope, something surreal in these times when most citizens want to protect animals,” she added.
“Those who govern us give permission because it brings them a few votes – that is what we are worth.”
This ordeal came after a man was gored by a bull with flaming horns in August.
Onlookers watched in horror as the man desperately tried to escape from the rampaging animal.
The man had been seen, drink in hand, goading the massive bull at a festival just outside the city of Valencia in Spain.
He eventually escaped, leaving his bag tangled on the bull’s horns.
SolarpixThe deadly ordeal was at the Toro del Gayumbo festival in the village of Unqrique in Spain[/caption]
SolarpixHundreds of people attend the festival every year[/caption]