A worker was badly injured during a bullfighting event when a bull, weighing more than 400 kilograms, charged and attacked him in three separate incidents. The incident occurred during a show in the Castile and León region, where a veterinary technician who served as a celebration official sustained serious injuries that temporarily kept him from work as a board member for several months. The defendants in the case remain in court as investigators seek to determine responsibility for the life-threatening injuries sustained during the August incident.
Witnesses describe brutal left-side horn impacts that almost killed the Benavente veterinarian. Mauricio Guerrero, a veterinary professional with decades of experience, recounted that after opening the second door to the pigsty, he encountered a bull that the organizers claimed was no longer a danger. He recalls passing through three doors as he attempted to reach safety. The animal exceeded the expected age for such shows, which raised questions about safety protocols and animal management.
At 21:05, Mauricio, who had earned membership in the Veterinary College and had thirty years of professional experience judging bullfights, examined the hooves of cattle and barely had time to warn that a bull remained behind the second door. “He was one meter away from me”, he recalls, noting the sudden danger as the gates opened unexpectedly.
His experience allowed him to react quickly. He dropped to the ground and covered himself, but could not prevent a savage attack. The first grazing left the veterinarian severely injured, with a deep puncture that damaged the scrotum, perineum, anus, and the ischial fossa, impacting the sciatic nerve. The injuries were described as extremely serious. The bull pulled back, then charged again, showing a stubborn persistence that intensified the danger.
Despite the severity of the attack, the veterinarian did not lose consciousness. He later described that he rose, began to breathe again, and discovered multiple injuries: four broken ribs, one pulmonary injury, a cranial contusion, and two broken vertebrae. Medical officials later indicated that the injuries would take months to fully evaluate. The trauma also caused a pinched sciatic nerve, which he only realized after getting to his feet. Blood stained his shoes as paramedics carried him from the arena to receive first aid and transfer him to Virgen de la Concha Hospital, with subsequent transfer to Salamanca for specialized surgery.
From that moment, his life became a prolonged ordeal. He endured months of pain and limited mobility, able to sit or stand with difficulty, while healing began in earnest. The animal’s force damaged part of his pocketed belongings, leaving visible scars across the body and limiting long-term mobility and activity. The burden of recovery extended well beyond the hospital stay, affecting daily routines and work capabilities.
Legal gap preventing the acceptance of work accident
The ongoing case underscores a competitive debate around whether the incident qualifies as a work accident and which party—if any—should bear responsibility and compensate the injured veterinarian. A recent hearing could not reach a resolution, with the Zamora Social Court lacking a clear mechanism to determine whether the injury fell under workers’ compensation or who should cover the costs for treatment and lost wages.
Officials noted that the Castile and León government relies on veterinary professionals to oversee animal handling at bullfighting shows. The presence of veterinarians at events is mandated by law to ensure safety during the handling of fighting bulls.
Additionally, the Veterinary College determines which entity covers the expenses of each event, while the town hall that hosts or leases the arena and the event organizers themselves play roles in the broader liability network. There are also questions about whether the company supplying bulls and transportation and the entities handling on-site animal care share responsibility for safety shortcomings and the enforcement of security measures.
If a liability is established, it will require clear explanations about any violations of safety protocols by some participants and uncertainties about the conditions inside the pens, raising concerns about the adequacy of risk control under prevailing business risk laws.
Whether the incident constitutes a work accident remains unresolved. National social security records indicate that registration as a veterinary professional for this one-time event did not meet the usual six-month minimum requirement for commercial activity, complicating the eligibility for certain benefits.
City officials billed the veterinarian for 128.84 euros for services rendered, according to the labor inspection report. The managing authority paid permit costs for the veterinarian from August 2021 through April 2022, reflecting the financial and administrative complexity of this case and the broader issue of cost allocation among participating entities.