Ivan Fandiño, a 36-year-old matador, was famous for his bravery. He faced bulls that many considered too risky to confront. His reputation was built on his willingness to take on these dangerous challenges.
Unfortunately, his passion for bullfighting ultimately cost him his life.
In 2017, Fandiño, who came from the Basque region, participated in the bullfighting festival in Aire-sur-l’Adour, located in the southwest of France. This event is known for its vibrant atmosphere and attracts many participants and spectators. Fandiño’s involvement in this festival highlighted his dedication to the sport and his cultural roots.
At one point, the matador got tangled in his cloak and fell to the ground, resulting in him being gored by the half-ton bull.
After being removed from the ring, he experienced significant blood loss. Emergency responders rushed him to the hospital; however, he had already suffered a heart attack and passed away. It was reported that during the transport, Fandiño exclaimed, ‘Hurry up, I’m dying.’ His internal organs, particularly his lungs, were severely injured due to the bull’s assault.
Matador Juan del Alamo, who ultimately killed the bull, reflected on the tragic event, saying, “I can’t believe it. None of us can comprehend how it happened; it was all over in a blink. The bull struck him with its hindquarters, and he collapsed face-first.”
Before this fateful moment, Fandiño had already suffered two significant injuries during bullfights. In 2015, he was tossed into the air by a bull in Spain, and the following year, he was left unconscious after a fight in Bayonne, France.
Fandiño’s death marked a grim milestone as the first matador to die in France since 1921, when Isidoro Mari Fernando tragically lost his life in the Béziers arena.
In France, the number of bulls killed in these bullfights is estimated to be around 1,000.
Both the Spanish royal family and the country’s prime minister paid tribute to Fandiño. King Felipe praised him as a “great bullfighter figure.”
Bullfighting continues to be a contentious and widely criticized practice. In 2010, the Catalan regional government in Barcelona voted to outlaw it, but the Spanish constitutional court reversed the decision in 2016, declaring bullfighting as a part of Spain’s “cultural heritage.”
