A Spanish matador was gored to death in front of horrified audiences at a bullfight in the eastern town of Teruel, the first to be killed in the ring in more than three decades.
29-year-old Victor Barrio was stuck in the chest by the massive bull who tossed him in the air before he fell defeated on the ground, where he layed motionless. The incident was aired live on television.
Other matadors immediately rushed to the rescue, distracting the 500-kilogram bull before carrying Barrio from the ring, but they were a bit too late.
Barrio, who had his corrida debut in 2008, was declared dead at the scene, according to the orgnaizer of the bullfight.
Spain President Mariano Rajoy Brey sent his sympathies after the tragic death.
"My condolences to the family and colleagues of Victor Barrio, bullfighter who died in Teruel. Rest in peace," he wrote on Twitter.
The Plaza de Toros de las Ventas bullfighting ring in Madrid also paid tribute to Barrio on its Twitter account.
"Distressed and affected. Rest in peace, Victor Barrio. All of us send our condolences to his team and to his family and friends," the bullring posted.
According to Spanish media, the last matador to be killed in the ring was in 1985 when 21-year-old rising star Jose Cubero died after being impaled through the heart.
Bullfighting has come under fire in Spain in the recent years by animal rights groups who denounce the sport as cruel and dangerous.
Several regions or cities have already put a stop to bullfights.
According to offical figures, 1,868 bull-related events were held in Spain in 2014.
Bullfighting and related events attract six million spectators in a country of 47 million residents, according to ANOET, a bullfighting event organizer.
Please be advised that the video below may contain graphic scenes.
Video: YouTube/cinetube
Photo: Deccan Chronicle
Source: Yahoo! News
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