Return of the man who wrestled mad bull 50 years ago

By Steph Barnett
An Italian farm worker who "fought like a matador" to save his Sandbach boss from being gorged to death by a bull, is in the area this week, more than 50 years after his heroic act. Giovanni Martone was 29 when he saved Samuel Eaton's life in March 1959. He was working on Reynolds Farm, Sandbach Heath, when he heard his boss cry out for help. Mr Eaton was leading his seven year-old shorthorn bull back to a pen by its nose ring, when suddenly it twisted its head and charged at the farmer. Mr Eaton grabbed the ring and tried to gain control but the enraged animal attacked the 50-year-old, goring him and breaking several of his ribs. Working on the land nearby, Mr Martone heard the farmyard dog, Prince, barking and realised something was wrong. Regardless of danger he ran and grabbed the nose ring from Mr Eaton's blood stained hand, and even though the maddened bull injured Mr Martone's right arm, he held on. Wrestling with the bull for five minutes, Mr Martone's struggling shouts were heard by three workmen who were in nearby fields. They rushed over to help hold the beast. Following the incident Mr Eaton was taken to Crewe Memorial Hospital, where he paid tribute to the great courage of his employee, saying: "If it wasn't for Giovanni, the bull would have killed me." From then on Mr Martone, from Silver Terrace, in Sandbach Heath, was known as the "hero of the heath" and was hailed both locally and nationally, with coverage in the "Chronicle" and the "Daily Express". In an interview with the "Sandbach Chronicle" after his heroic act, he said: "I just had to save the boss and that bull would have had to have killed me before I would let go. I was something like a matador, without the cloth." Speaking this week, over 50 years on from the life-saving incident, Giovanni's brother, Teadore, said his brother was lucky to be alive after wrestling with the bull. He said: "He did a good thing and was very brave to do what he did. He could be dead, but my brother had a lot of courage." Mr Martone came to England in 1955 where he stayed until 1963 before going back to Italy back to Italy. Now 80 years old, he lives in Cervinara, Italy, but comes back to see his three children and eight grandchildren. Speaking through Teadore, who lives in Cranage, Mr Martone said he had visited several times over the years and always loved coming back to Sandbach, which was "a lovely place with a lot of history". His family have taken him on trips to towns in the area as well as a family meal at the Heath Farm pub in Congleton and a visit to Manchester's Trafford Centre. He flies home on Friday.

The "Chronicle" would like to hear from any member of farmer Eaton's family who can recall the incident.

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