Matthew Peter Tassio, a 22 year old Chicago native, was the last person to be killed by a bull during San Fermin.  He was fatally gored by a bull in Pamplona, where he died in July 1995.  He was one of thousands of young Americans backpacking across Europe that summer and coming to experience the excitement of the San Fermin festivities.

As he was running up the calle Santo Domingo at the beginning of the encierro, he was knocked down by one of the mansos (steers) which run alongside the bulls. As Matthew struggled to get up, he fatefully caught the attention of one of the fighting bulls. As he stood up, the three-quarter-ton animal charged him, laying him flat.  As Matthew struggled to get up, the bull tossed him 7 meters in the air (20 ft) and charged him one last time.  Matthew died from a horn puncture to his abdomen which severed a main artery and damaged his liver.  His death is a sobering reminder of the inherent danger of running with the bulls. It is also a reminder of how to run safely.

Matthew died because he didn’t know the cardinal rule of bull running: if you go down, stay down! 

See more at this excellent BBC article on the death of Matthew Tassio.

Only 14 people have died as a direct result of violent bulls in the 100+ years of recorded festival history.  Each year there are many injuries, the vast majority of which are very light.  Hundreds of people run year after year with no mishaps.