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Spain’s royal family lead tributes for famous bullfighter

Ivan Fandino was punctured in the lung by the animal's horn after he tripped over his cape.

A prominent Spanish bullfighter has died after being gored by a bull during a bullfight in France.

Ivan Fandino, 36, leaves behind his wife Cayetana and baby daughter, Mara.

Bullfighting remains a topic of great contention in Spain with many arguing it is part of Spanish culture while others slam it as barbaric.

But Spain’s royal family and Prime Minister were quick to pay tribute to the famous bullfighter.

The royal family paid homage to “a great bullfighting figure” on their official Twitter page while Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy mourned the “sad news”.

King Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia of Spain.

Fandindo reportedly fought his first bull aged just 14.

He died in hospital after the bull’s horn punctured his lung, his death making front page headlines all over the world.

Fandino had won an earlier fight at the bullfighting festival and cut off the bull’s ear. He was later photographed being carried away from the arena by fellow matadors.

The father-of-one’s last words were reportedly, “Hurry up, I’m dying!”

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