A 35-year-old man has died after being gored by a bull during a corraleja — a controversial and often chaotic form of bullfighting that still takes place in some regions of Colombia — reigniting fierce debate over the practice as the country moves toward outlawing it entirely within the next few years.
The fatal incident occurred over the weekend in Fundación, a small town in the Magdalena region, where local festivities included one of these traditional but highly dangerous events. The victim, identified as Yovanis Márquez, had joined a crowd of shirtless participants who entered the ring to taunt and provoke the bull.
Mobile phone footage circulating on social media captures the harrowing moment the bull lunged toward Márquez, catching him squarely with its horns and throwing him violently into the air. The impact drew gasps from onlookers, with some seen rushing forward as the bull charged on.
Eyewitnesses described a scene that went from exuberant celebration to horror in seconds. One spectator told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo that Márquez initially appeared to recover: “He stood up as if he was fine, but the blood was flowing. It was only a few seconds before he fell to the ground.” Local media later confirmed that Márquez was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.