A traditional Mexican bull-running festival has turned deadly after two people were killed and at least 11 others injured during a violent weekend event in Tlaxcala.
The Huamantlada, held in the city of Huamantla roughly 100 miles east of Mexico City, saw 21 fighting bulls released onto the streets as thousands gathered for the annual spectacle.
The latest deaths mark the first fatalities recorded at the festival in eight years, adding a tragic dimension to an event that has been held in Huamantla for 72 years.
29-Year-Old Man Among Those Killed
Juan Manuel Filomeno Herrera, 29, from Huamantla, died during Saturday’s event after being caught in the chaos involving the charging bulls.
A second death was confirmed the following day after another injured participant died in hospital.
Luis Xolocotzi Ramirez, 57, suffered a skull fracture and a serious chest injury after being gored during the festival.
He was transported by air ambulance to a specialist hospital in the State of Mexico, but doctors were unable to save him.
His death brought the confirmed toll from the event to two.
Woman Survives Terrifying Bull Attack
Among the most disturbing incidents captured on video was an attack involving a woman who was thrown into the air by one of the massive bulls.
The animal, weighing around half a tonne, appeared to catch her with its horns and toss her repeatedly as people nearby desperately attempted to draw its attention away.
After briefly escaping the animal, the woman managed to run towards safety.
Blood could be seen streaming down her face as she fled from the scene.
Her survival provided a rare moment of relief during an event that left several spectators and participants seriously injured.
Man Gored After Falling to the Ground
Another widely circulated video showed a man identified by local media as 55-year-old José Andrés Hernández being attacked after entering the bull-running area.
Hernández reportedly climbed over a fence while attending the Huamantlada before losing his balance and falling to the ground.
A bull then charged him and gored him in the rear.
Even after another person attempted to distract the animal, it returned to Hernández, lifting him with its horns and throwing him back onto the ground.
He was reportedly unconscious following the attack and was transported to the High Specialty Hospital in Ixtapaluca.
Local reports said Hernández suffered a head injury and a wound to his leg but was later described as being in stable condition.
Serious Injuries Add to Festival Toll
Hernández was among 11 people reported to have been injured during the event, highlighting the risks involved in allowing large fighting bulls to run through crowded streets.
The injuries ranged from wounds caused directly by the animals to trauma sustained when people attempted to escape the charging bulls.
The scale of the incident has once again placed attention on the dangers associated with bull-running festivals, where participants knowingly enter areas occupied by powerful and unpredictable animals.
Huamantlada’s Long History
The Huamantlada has been a major annual event in Huamantla for more than seven decades and is regarded as one of the biggest bullfighting-related spectacles in the world.
The festival traditionally combines the release of fighting bulls with large crowds gathering along the streets to watch or participate in the event.
Despite the dangers, the tradition continues to attract large numbers of spectators and participants each year.
This year’s event involved 21 fighting bulls, creating multiple opportunities for dangerous encounters as people attempted to avoid the animals or sought the thrill of getting close to them.
Bullfighting Risks Extend Beyond Mexico
The dangers associated with the sport are not confined to Mexican festivals.
Just days before the deaths in Huamantla, Spanish matador David Fandila suffered a serious injury during a bullfight in Baeza, Jaén.
Fandila, one of Spain’s leading matadors, was reportedly gored in the groin while performing a series of passes in front of spectators.
Spanish Matador Suffers Gruesome Injury
Footage from the Baeza bullring showed the animal lifting Fandila onto its horns and throwing him into a somersault.
The crowd could be heard reacting with shock as the injured matador looked down towards his groin to assess the extent of his injuries.
Other bullfighters quickly moved towards him.
Some used their capes to shield him from the crowd while colleagues examined the wound.
Fandila eventually left the ring with assistance, clutching the injured area as he was escorted towards medical care.
He was treated at the bullring’s infirmary for a serious bull-horn injury to the scrotum involving severe damage to the right testicle.
Renewed Questions Over Dangerous Bull Events
The deaths in Huamantla are likely to renew debate over the safety of bull-running and bullfighting traditions.
Supporters argue that these events form part of longstanding cultural traditions and attract major crowds, while critics point to the severe injuries and deaths that can occur when people come into close contact with fighting bulls.
The latest incident demonstrates how quickly the spectacle can turn into a life-threatening situation, even when participants and organizers are familiar with the risks.
What’s Next?
Authorities and medical officials are expected to continue assessing those injured during the Huamantlada as details surrounding the deaths emerge.
The fatalities will also place renewed attention on safety arrangements at the festival, particularly the measures used to protect participants and spectators when the bulls are released onto the streets.
For now, the event has left Huamantla mourning two deaths while at least 11 other people recover from injuries sustained during one of Mexico’s most dangerous traditional spectacles.
Summary
Two people have died and 11 others were injured during this year’s Huamantlada bull-running festival in Huamantla, Tlaxcala.
Twenty-one fighting bulls were released during the event, with terrifying footage showing several people being attacked.
Among those injured were a woman who was repeatedly tossed by a bull and José Andrés Hernández, who was gored after falling in the bull-running area.
Luis Xolocotzi Ramirez, 57, later died in hospital after suffering a skull fracture and chest injury, while 29-year-old Juan Manuel Filomeno Herrera was also killed.
The tragedy comes days after Spanish matador David Fandila suffered a severe groin injury during a bullfight, underscoring the potentially devastating consequences of close encounters with fighting bulls.
