Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the moment when a massive water buffalo with huge horns gores a terrified spectator at a bullfight in China.

Local media reported that the victim was a spectator who had fallen into the bullring in Yuxia, Guizhou province, south-western China on 28th May while trying to film the show.

Horrific footage shows the furious buffalo’s relentless attack as it repeatedly gores and tosses the victim into the air with its horns.

Rescuers try to pull the buffalo away by its tail and another beats it with a stick, but nothing seems to stop it from pursuing the helpless spectator.

The victim was reportedly watching from the front row of the stands and fell into the bullring while he was filming the spectacle on his mobile phone.

It eventually took 12 men holding onto a rope around one of the buffalo’s hind legs to stop it for long enough to get the victim away.

Other spectators reportedly dragged him through the ring’s muddy floor and he was rushed to hospital.

The rest of the show was suspended.

The victim was not named in reports but was said to be aged around 25 or 26. The nature of his injuries was not disclosed.

Netizen ‘Sweetheart Gregor’ commented: “Speculators hurry up and fly to Spain to watch the bullfighting match, why do you want to make a copycat version in China?…”

While online commenter ‘Jasmine Tea Coffee’ wrote: “Cow’s Revenge!”

Bullfighting is a popular activity among the Miao people of Guizhou Province.

The Miao are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognised by the People’s Republic of China.

Unlike Spanish bullfighting, there is no matador and male water buffaloes specially bred for their size and aggression battle it out among themselves.

Water buffaloes are important animals in Miao culture.