THIS is the harrowing moment a bull jumped the fence – leaping into the crowd – during a festival in Colombia.

Footage shows the beast sprinting along the edge of the arena in Castilla district of Coyaima, Tolima state, before it launched itself up into the stands.

VIDEO: Several injured as bull leaps into crowd at ¿bullfight¿ and runs amokThe bull was racing inside the ring during the festival Credit: Jam Press VIDEO: Several injured as bull leaps into crowd at ¿bullfight¿ and runs amokThe moment the animal jumped the fence Credit: Jam Press

Within seconds, the cheers turned into screams as the animal charged at people.

Some tried to flee the stands, while others jumped into the ring to avoid being gored to death.

One woman was trampled by the bull as she tried to run away around the stand.

Altogether, at least four people were seriously injured during the chaos.

They were treated by emergency services and taken to medical centres, as reported by NeedToKnow.

Authorities are now carrying out checks to confirm the exact number of people affected and the severity of their injuries.

Ricardo Suárez, Tolima’s Secretary of the Interior, told local media: “The bull jumped towards the barrier where spectators were standing and attacked some of them.

“This is the consequence of the violence that we humans continue to promote.

VIDEO: Several injured as bull leaps into crowd at ¿bullfight¿ and runs amokPeople even jumped into the actual ring to escape the beast Credit: Jam Press VIDEO: Several injured as bull leaps into crowd at ¿bullfight¿ and runs amokThe bull in the middle of the packed stands Credit: Jam Press

“We must move towards new forms of entertainment and new spectacles that genuinely enrich Tolima’s culture.

“This proves that such barbarity is neither culture nor bravery. Bullfighting must end in Tolima.

“It is a grotesque practice that contributes absolutely nothing to society.

“We cannot seek enjoyment at the expense of the suffering of sentient beings – animals, and bulls that do not understand what is happening to them.”

The incident happened during a controversial “corraleja” event.

It is a traditional bull festival where the animal is released into a ring and members of the public are encouraged to poke it and tease it.

This is not the first time such an incident has taken place in Colombia.

Last August, bullfighter Yovanis Marquez, 35, was fatally gored in front of a shocked crowd in Magdalena.

He was known for his daring manoeuvres in the ring, but miscalculated and was impaled by one of the animal’s horns.

Spain is also not immune to such attacks.

In February, The Sun reported on , near the Spanish city of Salamanca.

He was gored to death after being lifted up in the air on the horns of a bull that caught up with him as he tried to reach safety.