Leire San Pedro, 25, died after being struck and pinned against a metal staircase by a bull during Lodosa's 'Toro con Soga' festival on Sept. 21, the town council said on Sept. 30. She was taken to a hospital and later declared brain dead. Lodosa will observe two days of mourning on Oct. 3–4, and her funeral Mass is scheduled for Oct. 4 at San Miguel Church. Her death is the sixth bull-related fatality reported in Spain this year, highlighting ongoing safety concerns at such events.
25-Year-Old Leire San Pedro Dies After Bull Crashes Into Spectator Area During Lodosa 'Toro con Soga'
Leire San PedroCredit: Family Handout
Leire San Pedro, a 25-year-old member of the Lodosa Bullfighting Club, has died after being struck by a bull during the town's traditional 'Toro con Soga' festival, the Lodosa City Council announced on Sept. 30. The incident took place on Sunday, Sept. 21, when a bull released into the streets charged into a narrow gap between the grandstands and wooden barriers and slammed into San Pedro, pinning her against a metal staircase.
What Happened
Local outlets including Diario de Navarra, El Diario Vasco and The Olive Press report that San Pedro was standing beneath a staircase when the animal entered the confined space. Emergency services transported her to a nearby hospital, where she remained in intensive care throughout the week and was later declared brain dead.
Injuries, Response and Mourning
Authorities said another woman was injured in the same incident; officials have not provided additional details about her condition. The Cultural Association of the Toro con Soga and the Lodosa City Council issued statements offering condolences to San Pedro's family and community.
A bull chases down a man in Lodosa, Spain on Oct. 16, 2021Credit: Elsa A Bravo/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire
On behalf of the Cultural Association of the Toro con Soga, we extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones and stand with them in this time of profound grief.
In an updated post on Oct. 2, the city council announced two days of mourning for Lodosa on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. San Pedro's funeral Mass is scheduled for Oct. 4 at San Miguel Church, where a minute of silence will be observed.
Context
The 'Toro con Soga' tradition runs on weekends in Lodosa from September through mid-October and involves bulls guided through the streets with long ropes attached to their horns so handlers can attempt to control them. San Pedro's death is the sixth fatality in Spain this year linked to bull-related events, according to The Olive Press; an earlier incident in early September in Ayna, Albacete, also resulted in the death of a 64-year-old woman who had been outside protective barriers.
The incident has renewed concerns about spectator safety at traditional bull events across Spain, prompting local authorities and organizers to review procedures and safety measures as communities mourn the loss.
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