Manuel Maria Trindade was making his first official appearance at the iconic Campo Pequeno Bullring in Lisbon, Portugal, on Friday, August 22, when the devastating accident happened.
Trindade was performing as a ‘forcado,’ a role in Portuguese bullfighting where the task is to provoke the bull and engage it head-on during a traditional ‘pega de cara,’ also known as a ‘face catch.’
Sadly, during Trindade’s turn, the 700kg bull focused only on him. After he provoked the animal, it launched directly at him with tremendous force and speed.
Disturbing footage, which has since circulated widely on social media, shows the young bullfighter clinging to the bull’s horns in an attempt to stop it, but clearly struggling to maintain control.
The massive animal then charged towards the edge of the arena, violently smashing Trindade into the wall while the stunned crowd of nearly 7,000 people looked on in shock and disbelief.
He was transported urgently to São José Hospital in Lisbon, where doctors placed him in an induced coma.
Sadly, despite their efforts, he passed away less than 24 hours later after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest, according to the Daily Mail.
Tributes quickly followed for the young forcado, who was following his father’s path by performing with the São Manços amateur bullfighting group.
The fate of the bull remains uncertain. However, in Portugal, it is illegal to kill bulls in the ring, even after an accident, unlike in Spain where the animals are usually killed at the end of a fight.
Instead, Portuguese law requires that the bulls are later taken away and slaughtered outside of the arena, reflecting a tradition that differs from neighboring Spain’s customs.
Local media also reported a second tragedy during the same fight, as an audience member died after becoming ill during the show.
Orthopedic surgeon Vasco Morais Batista, aged 73, reportedly fell unwell while watching the event and was rushed to hospital, according to Portuguese outlet Touro E Ouro.
The British Heart Foundation describes this medical issue as ‘a swelling or bulging at any point along the aorta,’ often caused when the arterial wall weakens and can no longer stretch properly.
Today, bullfighting continues to be legal in most of Spain, Portugal, France, the Philippines, and a few other countries, although it remains heavily criticized by animal rights advocates who call for a ban.
