24-year-old rodeo rider killed instantly after animal tramples him and breaks his neck in front of horrified crowd

A bull rider who was taking part in a rodeo championship was killed instantly when his neck snapped as he was thrown off and trampled.

Uéliton Flávio de Oliveira was caught under the hind legs of the bucking animal, shortly after entering the arena in Brazil.

Despite wearing a helmet and a protective vest he was fatally injured as he slipped and fell under the hooves of the one-tonne beast.

The 24-year-old professional remained motionless on the ground as rescuers and a medical team rushed to his aid.

He had been competing in the semi-finals of the 56th edition of the Paranaíba Agricultural Exhibition (Expopar) held in the city, in central west Brazi.l.

He was ranked 11th in the overall standings.

He needed a good mount to get a shot at the title which promised a top prize of 15,000 reais - about £3,000 - and had completed the minimum time of staying eight seconds on top of his mount.

The bell signalling his success rang just before the accident happened around 10pm on Sunday, July 8.