Warning: This article contains graphic footage.
The vegan and vegetarian lifestyles have boomed in recent years, with more and more people fighting for animal rights and liberation. And this growth of animal rights groups has ultimately resulted in more slaughterhouses, butchers, and restaurants being stormed by protestors, all in an attempt to bring an end to the killing of animals.
But these protests don't always go to plan. One group of animal rights activists found themselves in dangerous waters while storming a slaughterhouse in California. With one member filming their protest, the activists can be seen chaining themselves to the slaughter machine, which is when disaster struck.
Though, let's face it. Chaining your head to a slaughter line was never going to end well, was it?
Keep reading to watch the grizzly video, though be warned: It isn't for the faint of heart.
Animal activists know how to make a statement.
via: Shutterstock
Never ones to beat around the bush, animal activists are known for their over the top and eccentric ways of communicating their beliefs.Their methods aren't always subtle.
via: Shutterstock
Whether they're forcing the public to watch graphic footage from slaughterhouses, or laying on a table covered in fake blood while being "carved" with a giant knife (we can't make this stuff up...), these activists will go to extreme lengths to fight for animal liberation. You have to admire their enthusiasm, though.And they're often making headlines with their antics.
via: PETA
Like the time that animal rights group, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), staged a "dog BBQ" in the middle of London. Don't worry everyone, the dog was fake. But still, it was quite a shocking and, quite frankly, disgusting sight.Who remembers the time that PETA blamed milk for autism?
via: PETA
When they're not causing outrage with graphic and bloody stunts, they're enraging people with their outlandish and somewhat dramatic claims. Like this assuming statement about the link between autism and dairy. Keep reading to hear about another ridiculous stunt that PETA has pulled in the past.They're not afraid to go on the front line for animal liberation.
via: Shutterstock
Animal activists have never been ones to shy away from the gory reality of slaughterhouses. Many different groups have stormed slaughterhouses in the past, and have often resorted to chaining themselves to machinery or releasing animals to halt the slaughter process.It's often dangerous work.
via: Shutterstock
Chaining yourself to heavy machinery that is designed to kill animals is always going to be risky business, isn't it? One activist group found that out the hard way when their storming of a slaughterhouse went horribly wrong.The group in question are known as Direct Action Everywhere.
Hundreds of protestors had visited the farm that week.
They were met with a horrible sight.
They split off into two groups.
Once inside the slaughterhouse, the group took action.
This is when things got dangerous.
So far, so good.
But then disaster struck.
He started gasping for air.
via: Youtube/ Condition One VR
Chiang, who spoke in an interview, described the horrifying moment: "It was almost decapitating my head from my neck. I was feeling my life leave my body, as I was struggling to get out of that lock."Once released from the machine, Chiang was taken to the hospital.
You can watch the dramatic footage here.
The ten-minute long video shows the full series of events unfold. (Tip: It all kicks off around 4 minutes in).Exactly who re-started the slaughter machine is still unknown.
via: Youtube/ Condition One VR
According to ABC News, The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office has looked into the incident. Petaluma's Reichardt Duck Farm remains adamant that the whole incident was an accident and that the employee who turned the machine back on was unaware of the protestors chained up to it.