Bull running claims death in Rafelbunyol

A 50-year-old man died last weekend in the Valencian town of Rafelbunyol, after being repeatedly gored by a bull.

The incident occurred during the town’s festival of “bous al carrer”; the traditional sport of many Spanish towns where bulls are released into a town’s streets, to run through a closed off circuit, with the town’s young men running just ahead of them.

The most famous event of this type being Pamplona’s world famous Running of the Bulls, where since its inception in 1910, 15 people have been killed in the event.

The bull in Rafelbunyol had been released from its pen when it immediately it charged the man, who was thrown against a wall, and where the bull continued its assault, goring the man repeatedly in his chest.

Although ambulance crews were on the scene in seconds nothing could be done to save the victim.

Last week’s incident was a particular tragedy, as the deceased was merely a spectator, who became the target of the enraged bull.

One of the Pamplona death’s, though sad, is perhaps less excusable, when in 1935 the man who died, a Mexican and apparent would be matador by the name of Gonzalo Bustinduy, has his cause of death cited as “enticed bull to charge using his jacket.” Gonzalo didn’t get out of the way. The bulls themselves have no choice, and are usually dispatched in the following bullfighting event that follows the running.

By Paul Deed