Renowned Spanish matador Iv\u00e1n Fandi\u00f1o died in 2017 after being gored by a bull during a festival in Aire-sur-l\u2019Adour, southwest France. The 36-year-old lost his footing after tripping on his cape and was fatally struck in the torso by the bull\u2019s horn, puncturing vital organs.<\/p>\n
Fandi\u00f1o, a father from Spain\u2019s Basque Country, had been a professional matador for over a decade and was known for confronting especially dangerous bulls. Despite being conscious when carried from the arena, he suffered a fatal heart attack en route to the hospital. His reported last words were: \u201cHurry up, I\u2019m dying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow matador Juan del \u00c1lamo, who later killed the bull, expressed disbelief. Fandi\u00f1o had previously survived serious injuries in the ring, making his death a major shock to the bullfighting world\u2014it was the first matador death in France since 1921.<\/p>\n
Tributes followed from across Spain, including from King Felipe VI and then-Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. His death came less than a year after fellow matador V\u00edctor Barrio was also fatally gored in Spain.<\/p>\n
Though bullfighting remains controversial and is banned in some areas, it continues to be legally protected in both France and Spain as part of cultural heritage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Renowned Spanish matador Iv\u00e1n Fandi\u00f1o died in 2017 after being gored by a bull during a festival in Aire-sur-l\u2019Adour, southwest France. The 36-year-old lost his footing after tripping on his cape and was fatally struck in the torso by the bull\u2019s horn, puncturing vital organs. Fandi\u00f1o, a father from Spain\u2019s Basque Country, had been a…<\/p>\n