Ricky Gervais has slammed the sport of bullfighting after a fourth Spaniard died during an annual festival in just three days.

The Office star took to social media after a video emerged of the latest victim being struck by a bull at a show in northern Spain last night.

The victim, Miguel Ruiz Perez, was hit in the abdomen after slipping as he took part in an exhibition involving athletes and bulls.

The 29-year-old was horned while trapped against wooden fencing around the bull-ring as he tried to reach safety.

A YouTube video showed colleagues lifting him up in their arms and running with him to an ambulance at the entrance before desperately calling out for paramedics to arrive.

(Image: Splash)

(Image: Youtube)

The incident occurred in Lerin in Navarra, northern Spain just before 8pm yesterday.

He was pronounced dead after being taken by air ambulance to a hospital in nearby Pamplona.

Today Gervais, a staunch animal activist, shared the Mirror's story on Twitter and added: "Poor terrified bull. Ban cruel sports.

"Neither I nor any bull wants you to fight it. But if you insist I hope it defends itself. F*** anyone who tortures an animal for fun."

(Image: Youtube)

In a video shared on his Twitter feed earlier, Gervais addressed the camera, saying: "Self defence is no offence.

"Who wants to torture an animal to death for fun? And what f***** morons go and watch it?

"And people who go and see it say it's traditional. So was slavery.

"So was burning witches at the stake. So was child sacrifice. We've moved on."

Local authorities are yet to decide whether or not to suspend the week-long town festival, which was into its third day when the bullfighter died.

The tragedy took the number of bullfighting death victims during Spanish summer festivals over the weekend to four.

(Image: Youtube) (Image: PA)

Eight people are now known to have died in July and August after being gored by bulls during festivals across Spain.

Most of the deaths have occurred during bull runs or encierros, similar to those that take place every year at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona.

Four have occurred in the Valencian Community, formed by the eastern provinces of Castellon, Valencia and Alicante, in the past month and a half alone.

Last year more than 7,200 bulls were killed by bullfighters across Spain, El Diario has calculated.