Renowned Spanish matador Iván Fandiño tragically died in 2017 after being gored by a bull during a bullfighting festival in Aire-sur-l’Adour, southwest France. The 36-year-old lost his footing when he tripped over his cape, falling directly into the path of a charging bull. Known for his fearlessness, Fandiño had a reputation for facing bulls considered too dangerous by others.

The fatal encounter occurred after he had already participated in an earlier bout that same day. As he fell, the bull, weighing nearly half a ton, gored him in the torso, puncturing several vital organs, including his lungs. The attack left him bleeding heavily and in critical condition.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Fandiño was conscious as he was carried out of the arena. Witnesses reported that his final words were, “Hurry up, I’m dying.” Tragically, he suffered a fatal heart attack while being transported to the hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after.

Fandiño’s fellow matador, Juan del Álamo, later killed the bull that had attacked him. Del Álamo and others in the bullfighting world expressed disbelief at the sudden loss, calling the incident shocking and difficult to comprehend. Fandiño’s death marked the first matador fatality in France in nearly 100 years.

Throughout his career, Fandiño had faced several dangerous moments in the ring. In 2014, he was knocked unconscious during a fight in Bayonne, and in 2015, he was tossed into the air by a bull in Pamplona. Still, his death stunned fans and professionals alike.

Following the incident, tributes poured in from across Spain. King Felipe VI honored Fandiño as a major figure in bullfighting, and then-Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also offered condolences. His death came just months after another matador, Víctor Barrio, was killed in a televised event—the first such death in Spain in over three decades.

Bullfighting, while steeped in tradition, remains highly controversial. Though banned in some regions, it remains legal in both France and Spain, protected as part of their cultural heritage despite growing pressure from animal rights activists to end the practice.

Fandiño’s legacy endures as one of courage, risk, and a reminder of the real-life dangers in a centuries-old sport.