A 54-year-old man died at a La Rinconada estate after being struck by a runaway horse. Emergency services responded quickly, but the injuries proved fatal. The incident has prompted official notifications to labor authorities.
A fatal workplace accident occurred early Thursday at a rural estate in La Rinconada, Seville, when a 54-year-old employee died after being struck by a runaway horse. According to information from 112, the man had just stepped down from a horse-drawn carriage when one of the animals suddenly bolted, knocking him over and trapping him beneath the carriage.
The emergency call was received at around 8:20 a.m., reporting that a man had been run over by a horse. The coordination center immediately alerted the Centro de Emergencias Sanitarias (CES) 061 and the Guardia Civil, who responded to the scene. Despite the efforts of medical teams and bystanders, who managed to free the victim and provide first aid, the man’s injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead at the site.
Guardia Civil sources confirmed that the incident happened just moments after the worker exited the carriage. The horse, described as suddenly out of control, caused the man to become trapped and suffer critical injuries. Several people present at the estate intervened quickly, but their assistance was not enough to save his life.
Following the accident, 112 also notified the Centro de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales and the Labor Inspectorate, as the incident occurred during the victim’s work duties. Such notifications are standard procedure in Spain for workplace fatalities, ensuring that authorities can investigate the circumstances and assess compliance with safety regulations.
Workplace accidents involving animals remain a risk in Spain’s agricultural and rural sectors, where horse-drawn vehicles are still in use on some estates. According to the Spanish Ministry of Labour, fatal incidents in the agricultural sector, though less frequent than in construction or manufacturing, highlight the ongoing need for strict safety protocols and rapid emergency response in rural workplaces.
