A 57-year-old man was killed after being gored by a bull released during an annual festival in the southern Spanish town of Ubrique, authorities said.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening at about 6:30 p.m. local time during the 10th edition of the event known as the Toro del Gayumbo. Footage from the scene shows the man attempting to climb metal railings above a ground-floor apartment window as the animal charged. He was knocked to the ground, lost a shoe and was gored multiple times before being taken to a nearby health centre, where he was pronounced dead, municipal officials said. The man has not been officially named.
Town hall officials said two bulls had been released onto the streets during the festival, one at about 12:30 p.m. and a second at 6:30 p.m. The bull involved in the fatal attack was identified by organisers as Mosquetero, which translates to "Musketeer." Local authorities confirmed the death at around 8 p.m. and announced immediate measures in response to the tragedy.
In a statement issued after the incident, the town council said: "We would like to express our sincere condolences and solidarity to the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased. We would also like to announce that, as a sign of respect, tonight's fireworks display has been cancelled. In addition, flags on public buildings will fly at half-mast tomorrow as a sign of mourning. We ask for understanding, calm and cooperation from all residents and visitors, reminding everyone that the best way to show support is through prudence and respect. Ubrique has always been characterised by its unity in difficult times. Today, more than ever, we must demonstrate this."
A local resident, Isabel Carrasco Romero, criticised the continuation of such events, saying the death "would have been preventable" and contending that the council persisted in permitting bull releases under the guise of tradition despite public concern for both people and animals.
Fatalities and serious injuries linked to running or releasing bulls during Spanish festivities are relatively rare but recurring. In January 2022 a 56-year-old man was fatally gored by a charging heifer at a festival in Puerto Serrano, also in the province of Cádiz. In August 2022 an 18-year-old died after being gored by a bull with burning balls of flammable material attached to its horns at festivities in Soneja, in the province of Castellón.
Local authorities in Ubrique said they would observe a day of mourning to coincide with the town's patron saint celebrations and urged residents and visitors to act with "prudence and respect". The Guardia Civil and municipal services were reported to be investigating the exact circumstances of the release and the response at the scene.