Spanish bullfighter gored to death

Spanish bullfighter Victor Barrio (R), 29, is gored during a bullfight held on the occasion of Feria del Angel in Teruel, Aragon (Spain), July 9, 2016. Barrio died due to the injures after being seriously gored by his third bull. [Photo/IC]

MADRID -- Bullfighter Victor Barrio was gored to death by a bull on Saturday evening in the city of Teruel, Spanish state TV network RTVE reports.

Barrio, 29 years old, was knocked to the ground and gored in the chest by the third bull of the evening bullfight which was being held in the city's bullring, and although he was rushed to hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

The local hospital confirmed Barrio's death explaining the bull had "cut his aorta," as well as "perforating his right lung."

Barrio had been a late arrival into bullfighting and had not fully qualified until 2012 and his death once again highlights the hazards of the controversial practice, which divides public opinion in Spain.

Many Spaniards consider bullfighting to be an art-form, while others believe it should be banned because of the brutality which sees six bulls die in the ring in each ritual bullfight.

Meanwhile Sunday morning saw the fourth "encierro" (running of the bulls) at the San Fermin in Pamplona.

In contrast with the slow and dangerous encierros of Friday and Saturday, which saw people gored and a total of 21 people taken to hospital, Sunday's run was a rapid affair, although two of the thousands of people running with the bulls were gored and a total of five needed hospital treatment.