Retired Matador Gored to Death
AP Photo/Sergio Torres, File
A seasoned bullfighter died at the same arena where he once performed in the ring. Ricardo Ortiz, a retired matador from Málaga, Spain, was killed Friday at age 51 after being gored by a bull while working in the holding pens at the La Malagueta bullring, according to reports.
Ortiz had been assisting with the animals in their enclosures when one of the bulls suddenly attacked. Lances de Futuro, the company organizing the event, confirmed the incident and expressed sympathy for his family and coworkers, describing Ortiz as a widely admired and respected figure within the bullfighting community.
Born in Málaga to a family deeply connected to bullfighting, Ortiz had been helping prepare for a special event scheduled for Saturday that honored artist Pablo Picasso. The program, known as the Corrida Picassiana, featured three matadors facing six bulls.
Despite the tragedy, the event proceeded as planned the following day. Organizers began the program with a moment of silence to recognize Ortiz.
His death occurs during a period of growing criticism of bullfighting both in Spain and internationally. Since 2010, the number of bullfighting festivals held in Spain has dropped by roughly one-third. At the same time, several countries have begun restricting the practice. Colombia and Mexico have recently taken steps to prohibit or significantly limit bullfighting, and if Colombia’s ban approved in 2024 is fully implemented in 2027, only a small number of countries will still allow the events to take place legally.
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