German cyclist gored to death by escaped bull in southern France

The enraged bull began chasing a husband and wife after escaping from an enclosure

(Getty Creative)

A German cyclist has been gored to death after a bull escaped and charged towards him and his wife in the Camargue region of Southern France.

The couple were passing a farm in Mejane when several bulls inside an enclosure began fighting.

Authorities said the enclosure was believed to be in good condition but the fence had been knocked down during the bull fight, allowing one of the animals to escape.

The enraged bull began chasing the couple after seeing them on the road, before goring the 54-year-old man up to 20 times, French newspaper La Provence reported.

His wife is understood to have been treated for minor injuries.

A gendarmerie commander Arles told the broadcaster RTL: “The cyclists found themselves directly in front of the bull which was certainly already angry and, seeing cyclists, charged right at them.”

The couple had been on holiday in nearby village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The mayor of the region said such an attack was extremely rare, and nothing of the kind had been seen in the area for the last 40 years.