Goring tragedy in Benissa

THE tragic death of a young man aged 33 who was gored through his femoral artery during the Bous al Carrer bull-running in Benissa on Saturday May 2 has reignited the debate on bull-running, and by extension bullfighting, in Spain.
The victim died of his injuries in Denia Hospital following a nine-day stay in Intensive Care. He was caught between a tree and a charging bull, part of fiesta celebrations in the town.
This latest fatality brings the debate on Spain’s traditional ‘running of the bulls’ to public attention yet again, an issue that has prompted public outcry on many occasions, usually when serious injury or death has been the result of what many see as a time-worn Spanish tradition.
For many this, and bullfighting in particular, is a cultural issue and the public view on whether this tradition should be embraced or stamped out depends on personal opinion. Fans see bullfighting as not a sport but an art form. Opponents see it as a barbaric ‘torturing’ of the animals.
Visitors from other parts of the world – especially animal-loving Brits – often come down on the side of banning the sport, as happened in Catalonia. Others think they have no right to interfere in their host country’s culture.
As yet another victim of the Spanish bull-running leaves a family devastated, animal rights groups in Spain call yet again for an end to a dangerous tradition that remains locked into fiesta programmes all over the country.
The Euro Weekly News is asking readers’ opinions:
Do you think bull-running should be allowed to continue? Do you feel this long-held tradition should be respected? Or do you think it is too fraught with risks? Let us know at www.euroweeklynews.com.