Bull-run death leads to family compensation claim for €400,000
Tuesday, August 15, 2017 @ 7:54 PM
FAMILY members of a young man killed at a bull-running in a Castellón village are suing the council for €400,000.
The 36-year-old man entered the street outside the safety barriers at the festival in honour of the patron saint, Sant Xotxim, in Vilavella in the summer of 2016.
He tripped over and was gored so badly that his injuries caused nearly instant death.
Other members of the public in the street at the time were also caught unawares, some suffering minor wounds but most escaping unharmed.
The man's parents and other relatives say security measures at the event were deficient and directly caused the accident.
And the town council is legally responsible for any loss, damage, injury or death at its public events, even though most fiesta acts such as bull-runs, discos and concerts are organised and funded by outside companies, and parades are financed and arranged by subscribing fiesta club members, which anyone – even residents from other towns – are welcome to join.
Vilavella council, however, says safety barriers were in place and fully checked, and that all security requirements stipulated in its fiesta bye-laws were adhered to.
These include not allowing access to the bulls' area of the street to under-18s or anyone 'not in full control of their faculties', such as the disabled or anyone who has consumed alcohol.
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