On September 20, a 508kg bull named Malacara leaped over a safety fence into the stands at the Plaza de Toros de Murcia in Spain. despite the animal's proximity to spectators , a concrete wall prevented any injuries during the event.
Malacara's 508kg leap at the Plaza de Toros de Murcia
The incident occurred during a mounted bullfight that served as the closing event for the Murcia Bullfighting Fair. according to the report, the six-year-old bull,Malacara, was being goaded by matadors when it suddenly veered left and cleared a wooden fence, flying toward the front row of the spectator stands.
Juan Perez, a visitor seated a few rows back, described the animal as being completely out of control. As reported in the source, Perez noted that women in the front seats were nearly gored by the bull's horns, and it was only the presence of a concrete wall that stopped the 508kg animal from causing a tragedy.
Duarte Fernandes and the use of the rejon de muerte
Following the chaos in the stands, Malacara was ushered back onto the sand of the Plaza de Toros de Murcia. The bull, which originated from the Los Espartales ranch, had been assigned to the Portuguese mounted bullfighter, or rejoneador, Duarte Fernandes.
To conclude the event, Duarte Fernandes utilized a killing lance known as the rejon de muerte. This was followed by the use of a verduguillo, a short sword, to deliver the final blow. While the crowd cheered for Fernandes to be awarded an ear as a mark of success, the presiding judge refused the honor, though the matador still received a standing ovation.
A contrast to the July Corraleja injuries in Colombia
This near-miss in Spain echoes a much more violent incident that took place in July during a Colombian festival. In that instance, a bull leaped into a crowd during a Corraleja event—a traditional festival where the public is permitted to tease the animal—resulting in serious injuries to four spectators.
The Colombian event demonstrated the extreme volatility of these traditions; video footage showed a woman being trampled as she attempted to flee the stands. while the Murcia incident ended without injury,the Colombian rampage underscores the inherent danger when safety barriers are the only thing separating a charging animal from a panicked crowd.
The warning signs of Malacara's three jumps
One of the most concerning details provided in the official report from the Plaza de Toros de Murcia is that Malacara had already jumped into the exit alley twice during the same event before leaping into the stands. This suggests a clear pattern of behavior that was evident to officials long before the bull reached the spectators.
This raises critical questions about the decision-making process of the event organizers. Why was a bull that had already breached safety perimeters twice alllowed to remain in the ring? Furthermore, it remais unclear if the Los Espartales ranch had previously flagged Malacara for such erratic jumping behavior, or if the Plaza de Toros de Murcia officials simply underestimated the risk.
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