Horrific moment man, 71, is killed by bull on fire in Spanish town

This is the horrific moment a man was gored to death during a ‘bulls of fire’ festival in the Spanish town of Jerica.

Shocking video shows a bull with flaming horns charging at the 71-year-old man and crashing into him head-on in a bullring.

The man’s head was smashed into some iron railings and he died in hospital.   

The bull was on fire as part of the ‘toro embolado’ tradition where flaming torches are placed on a piece of wood across its horns.

The victim has been named as Rogelio Rodrigo Rodrigo from Chulilla, near Valencia.   

He was among the huge crowd of locals and tourists who lined the streets to watch the event. 

Onlookers say the bull with the flaming torches took him by surprise and he was unable to get out of the way in time or to get behind the safety barriers.

The accident happened at 2am in the morning and he was rushed to the intensive care unit of the local hospital with serious injuries.

Shocking video shows a bull with flaming horns charging at the 71-year-old man and crashing into him head-on in a bullring

He was struck full force on his head and body by the bull’s flaming horns and at one stage, sparks were seen coming out of his clothes.

His wife told the Spanish press he loved bullfighting but did not normally take risks.

The festivities were cancelled following his death.

The local council said it offered condolences to the man’s family but assured that the event had passed all safety checks and had all the relevant licences.

‘It seems he was stood in front of the safety railings and when hit by the bull, his body and head also impacted with the iron railings behind him,’ said a spokesman.

The bulls of fire is celebrated in several Spanish regions and involves a frame being placed on the animal’s head, with torches which are set on fire and also fireworks. It is then set free to run through the town.

Animal groups say the bulls suffer physical and mental torment despite the protests of organisers who say they don’t. 

The man’s head was smashed into some iron railings and he died in hospital

The man was struck full force on his head and body by the bull’s flaming horns and at one stage, sparks were seen coming out of his clothes