A grandfather was left fighting for his life after being attacked by a bull during a family holiday in Portugal.

Brian Gage, of Dale View Avenue in Chingford, underwent emergency surgery and spent three days in intensive care after suffering serious injuries to his legs, groin and ribs.

Mr Gage, 57, and his friend Stuart Field, 42, were taking part in the annual running of the bull event in the town of Moita do Ribatejo when he was attacked.

As Mr Gage walked out of a restaurant, the male adult bull approached quickly and knocked him to the floor.

Mr Field watched the drama unfold from up a nearby tree.

He said: “The bull charged at him front on, pinned him up against a wall, flipped him to the ground, rammed into him several times, and then started dragging him.

“The horn got under his skin, split open his right leg, went up the back of his left leg, and across his groin.”

Local people then fought to save Mr Gage by pulling on the bull’s tail.

He was eventually freed and taken to Sao Jose Hospital in Lisbon, where he underwent initial 10-hour surgery, before the family endured an anxious three-day wait as Mr Gage was treated in intensive care, with his wife Jill by his side.

He was given hundreds of stitches and treated for five broken ribs and an infection.

Mr Gage underwent further surgery, but is expected back in the UK on Friday for further recuperation following the attack in September.

And Mr Gage’s daughter Vicki, 26, was full of praise for the medical staff in Portugal.

She said: “The injuries my dad suffered were awful, absolutely horrific and it has been a very stressful situation because he could have died, but honestly, he is in the best place.”

“The care and treatment he has received from the staff has been fantastic and the intensive treatment unit is one of the best I have ever been to.”

Mr Gage will return to his home to find a building on his land has been demolished by the council after a long-running planning dispute.

Bull-dozers moved in yesterday to knock the building down because it was erected without planning permission.

Mr Gage has been in dispute with his neighbours for 30 years over buildings he has put up on the land.

“They have been trying to get this knocked down for 20 years and then as soon as they learn that my dad is in hospital and out of the country, they take action. It’s ridiculous,” his daughter added.