Death in the afternoon

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', 'This is my message to you'

Mexico City, and a crowd of up to 48,000 have come to see the Matadors fight a half-ton bull named Pajarito or Little Bird. The crowd relish the tang of danger and death in the hot midday air. What indeed could be more thrilling than facing down a fighting bull and proving your mettle? Were not the matadors on the scorching sand the lucky ones.

Pajarito was obviously in a mood to share the glory - leaping across a safety barrier over the heads of journalists and into the most expensive seats at the capital's vast ring (video here). Two people were hospitalised, one woman spectator received a six-inch (15-cm) gash in her chest.

The rampage ended when a fight steward, Felipe Vadillo, killed the animal trapped between rows of seats with his sword.