Fandiño, a father and native of Spain’s Basque Country, had been a professional matador for over a decade, known for taking on bulls considered too dangerous by others in the sport. On the day of the accident, he had already participated in an earlier bout before stepping into the ring again.
During the fight, Fandiño tripped over his cape and fell to the ground, where the charging bull struck him with its horn. The animal, weighing nearly half a tonne, gored him in the torso, puncturing several vital organs, including his lungs.
Despite being conscious as he was carried out of the arena, Fandiño was bleeding heavily. Witnesses later reported his final words: “Hurry up, I’m dying.” He suffered a fatal heart attack en route to the hospital.
