MADRID – A killer bull has claimed another victim after goring to death a 29-year-old man during festivities in the eastern Valencia region, an official said Sunday.
The man, whose name was not released, died at a hospital in the town of Xativa late Saturday, a regional government official said.
The 1,100-pound (500-kilogram) bull — named "Raton," which means mouse — has killed two other members of the public during festivals over 10 years. Because of Raton's fearsome reputation, his owners reportedly earn euro10,000 ($14,250) each time he appears at a festival.
"He's the one that gets the highest prices," owner Gregorio de Jesus said of Raton last year. "But still he works out the cheapest because wherever he goes organizers double the ticket price — from euro6 ($8.50) to euro12 ($17)."
Television images showed the man being tossed in the air and then hit along the ground in Xativa's bullring.
In Spain, many summer festivals highlight bull runs in streets or bullrings, where revelers can come close to the fearsome beasts.
Witness accounts cited by Valencia's Las Provincias newspaper Sunday said the man appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and had been escorted back to his seat in the stands during the bull run immediately before Raton's appearance.
He then made his way back down to the ring and was charged and tossed powerfully by the large black-and-white bull.
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