A reveller was gored to death in the notorious 'street of hell' during a bull-running festival in Spain. Santiago Barreo San Roman, 30, had been taking part in the San Marcos festivities in Baes de Segura, Jaen, on Friday evening when the incident took place.
Horrific footage of the clash
Horrific footage of the clash showed the fighting bull breeder attempting to shelter behind a barrier in Calle Palomares – known locally as 'the street of hell' due to the intensity of the runs. As the father-of-two cowered behind a barrel, the animal thrashed around and tossed him in the air with its horns. Roman was dragged along the street in front of dozens of terrified festival-goers as he scrambled to back away from the raging bull.
Attempts to distract the bull
Several men began running onto the street in an attempt to distract the beast from its rampage, while others pulled on a rope attached to the bull to pull it away. But the animal continued its attack, shoving the ranger into a wooden fence using its horns and dragging his body across the ground. Witnesses told local media that the bull had pierced the man's rib with its horn before he was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Medics attempted to stabilise Roman, but he tragically succumbed to his injuries around an hour later. The man was associated with a new generation of breeders, according to local Spanish reports. He had only recently launched his own project with links to Torrestrella - a renowned Spanish cattle ranch famous for breeding fighting bulls and horses. Roman had inherited a small herd of bulls from his family, which he had ambitions to expand in the future.
Tributes and festival response
Following his death, friends and colleagues described him as deeply connected to rural life, having grown up working alongside his father and grandfather, who founded the family's cattle business. He leaves behind a pregnant wife and another young child. The festival organisers, Hermandad de San Marcos, expressed their 'deep sorrow' in an official statement, offering condolences to the family and calling for unity during what it described as a moment of profound grief. The festival, hosted annually between April 22 and April 25, continued as usual following the incident, but a minute's silence was held for Roman.
Previous goring incident
It comes after one of Spain's most celebrated matadors was targeted by a bull during a gruesome goring last week. Morante de la Puebla, widely hailed as the 'King of bullfighters', was dramatically carried from the ring at the packed Maestranza arena in Seville, after being caught out in a split-second misjudgment during his bout. The bull, ignoring the sweep of the cape, charged towards him, catching him behind at hip level before driving its horn into his body and perforating his rectum. At first, the full extent of the 10cm injury was unclear. Morante was rushed to the hospital, where he was placed under general anaesthesia for emergency surgery. Doctors confirmed he had suffered a devastating internal injury, with the bull's horn tearing into the highly sensitive area. Speaking from his hospital bed after being moved out of intensive care, Morante said: 'It was the most painful goring I've ever had. Wow, it was excruciating.' He also admitted the fear he felt immediately after the attack, saying: 'It was undoubtedly the most painful goring I've suffered in my career.'
