Las Ventas goring: Banderrillero Raúl Ruiz seriously injured in Madrid bullfight

A banderillero was seriously injured after being gored during the first novillada of the Feria de la Comunidad de Madrid held at Las Ventas on Friday April 1 in the evening. The incident occurred with the final bull of the afternoon, when Raul Ruiz was working with the sixth novillo (a young bull) of the event. It took place as he moved in to place the third pair of banderillas, at a moment described inside the arena as particularly exposed due to the animal’s behaviour.

What happened during the banderillas stage

The injury took place during the banderillas phase, one of the most exposed moments in a bullfight. Banderillas are short, barbed sticks placed into the bull’s shoulders to weaken its neck muscles and alter its behaviour during the final stages of the contest.

Ruiz was executing the third pair when the bull reacted as he approached. The animal turned sharply at close range, catching him in the lower body before lifting him and throwing him to the ground. The moment was described inside the arena as sudden and violent, with minimal time for reaction once the bull committed to the charge.

Medical response and injury severity

The bull reacted at close range as he approached, catching him and driving the horn 25 cm into the inner part of his right thigh. He was lifted off the ground and thrown down before remaining on the sand as fellow members of the cuadrilla rushed to assist him.

Medical teams entered the ring immediately and transferred him to the infirmary inside Las Ventas. Doctors confirmed a serious entry and exit type wound to the right thigh, with the initial report indicating that the wound affected muscle tissue and impacted/bruised the femoral artery. He was treated urgently on site due to significant bleeding.

Other injuries during the same event

The afternoon also saw multiple injuries involving the novilleros (emerging bullfighters) taking part in the same event. Álvaro Serrano and Joel Ramírez, both making their debut at the Madrid bullring, were caught while attempting to kill their respective bulls. In both cases, they were knocked down or hooked during the estocada phase (the moment they kill the bull), although initial reports suggested no serious consequences.

Daniel López also suffered a knock during his own attempt to kill the bull, again without apparent serious injury according to early assessments.

Broader context across Spain’s bullfighting season

The incident in Madrid comes amid a series of injuries reported in recent weeks across Spain’s bullfighting calendar. At Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza in Sevilla, two separate serious incidents involving bullfighters have occurred recently during events linked to the Feria de Abril, both requiring medical attention during performances.

Separately, a fatal goring was reported in the province of Jaén, where a 33-year-old farmer died during a town festival involving bulls. These events reflect a period of heightened activity across Spain’s bullfighting season, with both professional corridas and local festivals taking place simultaneously.

Safety and medical response in the ring

Bullrings such as Las Ventas are equipped with permanent medical teams trained to respond immediately to traumatic injuries, including goring incidents where blood loss can be rapid.

Despite these measures, the inherent risks of bullfighting remain significant due to the close proximity required between participants and the animal.

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