Canet d’en Berenguer bull events lead to another tragedy
An elderly man from Canet d’en Berenguer was seriously injured during the Bous al Carrer festivities in Valencia and he died on Wednesday afternoon. The 80-year-old was admitted to Sagunt Hospital in an intensive care unit due to the gravity of his injuries. Reports indicate that the man passed away a few hours after arrival at the hospital, according to information gathered by the local press.
The incident occurred when the man, thinking the animal had already returned to the corral, approached a fence to inspect a bull or cow. He is said to have entered a restricted area and was knocked to the ground as the animal charged. Onlookers and bystanders attempted to intervene, and some fans helped to move him away from the immediate danger near the hurdles so responders could reach him.
Initial responders provided care at the scene and then transported him to the health center. Despite the severity of the impact, the man remained conscious in the early moments of assistance and was later taken to the intensive care unit after receiving first aid in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
The mayor of the town, Pere Antoni Chordá, told the press that the man did not reside in the municipality but has a nephew who does live nearby. Chordá noted that the festivities are not municipal property but are organized by a clavary party committee, which met to offer reassurance that the incident was a regrettable accident.
The mayor highlighted that the city council has implemented six police operations this year to supervise the bous al carrer events and to ensure the safety of minors and individuals who may be intoxicated from entering restricted areas. The aim of these operations is to prevent dangerous situations, especially when crowds are large and the animal handling area is busy.
According to Chordá, this situation is an instance of a single person who attended the celebration and believed everything had ended, only for misfortune to strike when the heifer remained present. The local authority stressed that supervision is ongoing and that participants must respect safety norms to minimize risk during such celebrations.
The Canet d’en Berenguer festivities are set to conclude on Friday, and officials decided against suspending the events. Instead, a minute of silence will be observed in each bullfight this Thursday to honor the victim and to remind residents that there is always some risk when entering the enclosed area of these events. A socialist party representative remarked that the handling of the bous al carrer has been exemplary this year and stressed the need to comply with safety standards to prevent incidents. The ongoing effort focuses on applying existing rules consistently and improving monitoring measures.
Another injury at Altura’s bullfighting events
In the same day, another attendee was hurt at Altura and required surgery at Sagunt hospital. A 35-year-old man suffered injuries in the bullfights and is reported to be in stable condition after the operation, according to sources cited by the local press.
With more injuries reported in the region, the authorities remain vigilant and emphasize the importance of crowd control, animal handling procedures, and immediate medical response to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators.
Eight fatalities in Bous al Carrer celebrations to date
With the death of the elderly man, eight people have died during the popular bous al carrer celebrations this year. This marks the most fatal year in the ongoing history of the festival since 2015, when seven deaths were recorded. In the town of Beniarbeig in Alicante, a 73-year-old woman died after an incident involving a heifer during one of the festivities. The community continues to reflect on safety measures and community responsibilities as these celebrations proceed.