Two killed in horrific scenes as Mexican bull running festival turns into bloodbath
Two people were killed with more injured in horrific scenes during a bull running incident in Mexico.
The event, a Mexican take on Spain's famous Running of the Bulls festival, ended in tragedy as eleven people were left injured when bulls began violently ramming into participants.
Video footage posted on social media showed people getting gored and thrown into the air by the animals as others desperately clung on to the barriers.
The people had been run down on the streets of Huamantla on Saturday (22 August), where 21 fighting bulls were released onto the streets.
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Traditionally originating from Spain, the Running of the Bulls is a daily morning sprint with live animals through the streets held in July.
The recent footage was taken from Tlaxcala and showed people getting seriously injured during the Huamantlada Festival.
The deaths were the first recorded in eight years at the festival, which has been running in the city for more than 70 years.
First starting back in 1954, the annual Huamantlada Festival is said to be the biggest bull-running event in the world and was styled after the famous event in Pamplona in Spain.
Thrill seekers take part and run alongside and in front of the bulls, trying to avoid being hit, gored or trampled during the major annual event.
The Huamantlada is a large street circuit, so bulls and people both move through multiple streets as spectators watch on.
As per the Daily Mail, 21 fighting bulls were released as part of the event this year.
Juan Manuel Filomeno Herrera, from Huamantla, died aged 29 on Saturday. It was reported he sustained a serious head and chest injury.
Meanwhile, Luis Xolocotzi Ramirez, aged 57, sustained a skull fracture and gore injury to his chest and later died from his injuries.
Disaster struck within 90 seconds of the event as the first injury was reported as hundreds watched on and cheered from the sidelines.
Social media footage, posted to the likes of X, showed those involved trying to distract the bulls with red capes as the relentless bull attacks continued.
There were desperate shouts for help as others were seen grasping onto the barriers and railings holding themselves above ground.
Stretchers were then passed over to lift the severely injured members of the public to safety.
The videos posted online also showed a young woman being attacked but she is seen to get up and is able to walk away from he scene. She was seen being thrown in the air during the festival.
Topics: World News, Animals
James Holt