PROVINCIA DE ALICANTE – A woman in Beniarbeig died Thursday afternoon after coming into contact with a bull’s horn while running a bull. The dramatic incident happened during the bull run. Immediately afterwards, all festivities were suspended.
The 73-year-old woman is the seventh fatality of the year. Furthermore, that number is equal to the total number of deaths in all of 2015. This year is the most dramatic year since then. The victim had French nationality but was a resident of Dénia. The French woman died on the spot after the bull pierced its horn into her chest.
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French woman killed by bull at Beniarbeig celebrations
Beniarbeig celebrated its annual celebrations on the occasion of San Roque and the events started last Friday. However, from Sunday onwards there were also activities with bulls, including this bull run (Bous al Carrer).
The president of the Federation of Bous al Carrer in the Valencian Community, Germán Zaragozá, warned earlier in Las Provincias that a higher number of events would also lead to more incidents and thus more deaths.
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Seventh fatality in Valencia this year
The woman is the seventh fatality recorded in the Valencia region this summer as a result of bull festivities and the third since last weekend. Then a young man died in the bullfights of Vallada (Valencia) and another man in Almedíjar (Castellón). In addition, she is the second fatality during this type of celebration in the Marina Alta region, since a 64-year-old man from Pedreguer lost his life after being hospitalised for nine days in Dénia after coming into contact with a bull during the running of the bulls.
Regulatory analysis needed
After the last two fatalities, Minister Gabriela Bravo has already warned of the need to analyse the regulations to prevent further deaths. Bravo this week already called the number of deaths this summer during the celebrations with bulls in the Valencian Community “disturbing”. Furthermore, she pointed out there is growing evidence that these activities present a significant risk.
Bravo is in favour of “reviewing the protocols and taking all necessary measures. So that, if traditions are to be maintained, they do not endanger human lives.”
