One of Spain’s most celebrated matadors has described the ‘excruciating’ moment a bull drove its horn into him just a day after joking about being gored by the beast.
Morante de la Puebla, widely hailed as the ‘King of bullfighters’, is recovering in the Viamed Hospital after being rushed out of the packed Maestranza arena in Seville on Sunday.
The torero had faced a bull which had positioned itself in a treacherous spot in the ring when the incident unfolded. Attempting a daring manoeuvre, he failed to raise his arms in time, leaving himself exposed.
The animal ignored the sweep of the cape and charged, catching him behind at hip level before driving its horn into his body and perforating his rectum.
Speaking from his hospital bed after being moved out of intensive care, Morante said: ‘It was the most painful goring I’ve ever had. Wow, it was excruciating. I felt it, searching for blood.’
He also admitted the fear he felt immediately after the attack, saying: ‘It was undoubtedly the most painful goring I’ve suffered in my career.
‘I was in immense pain, and I was also very scared because I saw that the bull had caught me, and I thought I was bleeding a lot.
‘When I got to the infirmary and saw that the bleeding was minimal, I relaxed quite a bit. But it hurt terribly.’
Morante de la Puebla, widely hailed as the ‘King of bullfighters’, is recovering in the Viamed Hospital after being rushed out of the packed Maestranza arena in Seville on Sunday
The torero had faced a bull which had positioned itself in a treacherous spot in the ring when the incident unfolded
He added: ‘I had a rough night, sleeping very little, but to be honest, I wasn’t in much pain. I’ll have to stay like this for a few days, with no food, and I hope I can get through it with a little patience.’
Describing the moment he was struck, he said: ‘The bull came out loose, and when he settled in the centre of the ring, I went for him. He took me out.’
The official medical report detailed a deep wound near the anus, with damage to the sphincter muscles and a perforation to the rectal wall.
Surgeons carried out an extensive procedure to repair the internal damage, including cleansing the wound, reconstructing affected tissue, and inserting drainage to prevent infection.
Dr Octavio Mulet, who operated, said the injury was particularly complex due to its location.
‘The goring has caused complex injuries, more so than its severity. It’s in the anal area, the rectum. A sphincter repair was necessary, which makes the procedure more complicated,’ he explained.
He also ruled out other injuries in the lumbar region, pending further radiological tests.
The animal ignored the sweep of the cape and charged, catching him behind at hip level before driving its horn into his body and perforating his rectum
Morante remains on intravenous treatment and will be unable to eat for several days as doctors manage the risk of infection.
A central line is set to be inserted for parenteral nutrition, allowing nutrients to be delivered directly into his bloodstream.
‘I’ve never had it done, but they say it’s with a catheter that reaches a larger vein so the food goes in much better,’ the bullfighter said.
Despite the ordeal, he was described as calm, greeting visitors with a tired smile while acknowledging the discomfort. ‘I was afraid there would be a lot of blood,’ he added.
He is expected to remain in hospital for at least a week as the bullfighting world reels from the incident.
