Bullfighter Dies In First Lisbon Show, Spectator Also Dies

A 22-year-old Portuguese bullfighter was killed during his first master unrecorded capacity successful Lisbon connected August 23. The incident has reignited fierce statement complete whether bullfighting should beryllium banned successful Portugal.

Manuel Maria Trindade was taking portion successful his first-ever master capacity astatine Lisbon’s iconic Campo Pequeno bullring erstwhile calamity struck.

Just moments aft entering nan arena, Trindade ran toward a 1,500lb bull to initiate a pega de cara (face catch), attempting to drawback its horns and clasp his ground. Instead, nan animal hoisted him into nan aerial and slammed him against a wall. He sustained terrible encephalon trauma, dying little than 24 hours later successful São José Hospital, according to Correio da Manhã.

A 73-year-old spectator, later identified arsenic an orthopaedic surgeon Vasco Morais Batista, besides died aft falling sick while watching nan incident. He was diagnosed pinch an aortic aneurysm astatine Santa Maria Hospital, Touro e Ouro reported.

The calamity prompted a activity of reactions online, pinch immoderate animal authorities activists celebrating nan bullfighter’s decease arsenic “karma” for taking portion successful what they telephone a sadistic sport.

In an affectional unfastened missive published connected ODigital, Trindade’s mother, Alzira, straight addressed nan Portuguese environmentalist statement Pessoas–Animais–Natureza (PAN):

“I want to convey you for each your applause, laughter, and rejoicing complete my son’s death. Did you cognize him good capable to beryllium happy astir his death? Do you cognize if he liked animals?”

She defended her son’s characteristic and his respect for animals, penning that nan family kept dogs who “slept pinch him.”

“My boy belonged to a group of brothers who deterioration a overgarment pinch honour and bravery. These groups ne'er harmed a bull; they handled it skilfully.”

Alzira added that she was still waiting to person her son’s body, arsenic he was an organ philanthropist who helped prevention 7 lives.

Portuguese bullfighting

Portuguese bullfighting is different from nan Spanish style. Bulls are not killed successful nan ring, owed to a royal decree from 1836, though they are typically slaughtered later. Forcados for illustration Trindade look nan bull connected foot, without weapons, and effort to subdue it utilizing their bodies alone.

The athletics is profoundly rooted successful Portuguese culture, pinch nan first known bullring making love backmost to nan 16th century, but it has faced increasing disapproval successful caller years.

In consequence to Alzira’s letter, PAN issued a connection powerfully denying that its members celebrated Trindade’s death:

“PAN did not, nor would ever, rejoice successful nan decease of a young personification nether immoderate circumstances,” nan statement said.

Still, PAN reiterated its long-held position that bullfighting should beryllium abolished “for ethical reasons and retired of respect for life and animal welfare.”

Inês Sousa Real, a spokesperson for nan PAN statement and a Member of nan Assembly of nan Republic, posted connected X:

“In summation to this tragic incident, six bulls were besides tortured. It’s precocious clip to put an extremity to this barbarity!”

She called nan athletics an “ethical and civilisational abnormality,” and PAN has submitted proposals to suspend bullfights astatine Campo Pequeno for nan remainder of nan play and prohibition minors nether 18 from attending aliases participating successful bullfighting events.

With 2 deaths successful 1 nighttime and renewed scrutiny connected animal welfare, Portugal faces mounting unit to determine whether this centuries-old contented still belongs successful nan modern age.

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