Man Dies After Being Gored By Bull During Spanish Festival

A 55-year-old man has died after suffering injuries during a bull running event in Spain.

Footage from the incident showed the man being lifted into the air by a bull, before being thrown back to the ground.

He was given emergency treatment at the scene before being rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards, after a gore wound in his left thigh perforated his femoral artery.

Town hall officials in Onda, which is situated in the eastern Spanish province of Castellon where the incident happened, announced they were suspending the rest of the night's events following news that the unnamed man had died.

A reporter for a local TV station, which is thought to have broadcast the incident live, could be heard saying: "We've had quite a strong somersault here. Let's hope it's nothing serious but it looks as if he's lying motionless."

The incident happened during the Fira de Onda, an annual festival where bulls are let loose on the streets, an event the regional government describes on its website as an 'excuse for celebration'.

The running of the bulls, which sees crowds race through the streets followed by the animals, similar to the famously controversial ceremony in the Spanish town of Pamplona, form a central part of the annual event.

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Describing this particular part of the festival, the official website reads: "The event involves racing through the streets of the town in front of a group of bulls. Can you imagine how your adrenaline must pound as you hear the bulls thundering behind you?"

The Fira de Onda festival was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. This is the first reported case of a person dying during a bull running event following the lifting of restrictions.

Onda Town Hall said in a statement following the incident: "Due to the death of a man this afternoon and as a sign of respect and show of condolence, the rest of the programmed night-time events have been suspended."

The Fira de Onda takes place during the last week of October when Onda celebrates its patron saint festival, in honour of Santísimo Salvador, Virgen de la Esperanza and San Roque.

The bull running events, along with a religious procession are the biggest parts of the festivities.

Despite this being the first bull running death since the pandemic, it is not the first incident of its kind. In 2015, seven people died between the start of July and the middle of August.

Topics: No-Article-Matching, Spain, Animals

Bradley Lengden