Gore blimey! Bull targets Spanish matador in a VERY painful place

By TARYN KAUR PEDLER, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 00:18, 21 April 2026 | Updated: 00:18, 21 April 2026 One of Spain's most celebrated matadors was targeted in a very painful place by a bull during a gruesome goring. Morante de la Puebla, widely hailed as the 'King of bullfighters', was dramatically carried from the ring at the packed Maestranza arena in Seville, after being caught out in a split-second misjudgment during his bout.  The seasoned torero had stepped forward to face Matilla's fourth bull, which had taken up a dangerous position near the irrigation ditch - a notoriously treacherous spot in the arena.  Brimming with confidence, Morante attempted a daring manoeuvre but failed to raise his arms in time or follow through correctly. In a heartbeat, disaster struck. Realising too late that he was exposed, Morante tried to break away - but the bull, ignoring the sweep of the cape, charged with brutal precision. It caught him from behind at hip level, driving its horn into his body and perforating his rectum. At first, the full extent of the 10cm injury was unclear. The matador instinctively reached back, searching for the wound as a burning pain spread through him.  Just days after delivering what many called a sublime performance, he was now sprawled helplessly in the sand. He was swiftly carried from the arena, his body described as slack and motionless, as blood was seen on the bull's horn - a chilling sign of the damage inflicted. Morante de la Puebla, widely hailed as the 'King of bullfighters' was caught out in a split-second misjudgment during his bout The seasoned torero had stepped forward to face Matilla's fourth bull, which had taken up a dangerous position near the irrigation ditch - a notoriously treacherous spot in the arena Morante attempted a daring manoeuvre but failed to raise his arms in time or follow through correctly He was swiftly carried from the arena, his body described as slack and motionless, as blood was seen on the bull's horn Behind closed doors in the operating theatre, medics raced to assess the injury.  Morante was undressed and examined before being placed under general anaesthesia for emergency surgery. Hours passed with no update, fuelling mounting concern. It was not until after 9.30pm that news finally emerged, and it was grave. Doctors confirmed the matador had suffered a devastating internal injury, with the bull's horn tearing into a highly sensitive area.  The official medical report painted a stark picture, detailing a deep wound near the posterior anal margin, 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.  The operation, led by Dr Octavio Mulet, was described as lengthy and complex. His condition has been classified as 'very serious'.   Witnesses described how a silence fell over the crowd as attendants rushed the stricken matador to the infirmary, his body limp and in visible agony. The shocking incident has sent waves of concern through the bullfighting community, where Morante's recent return to the ring had already been viewed with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Now, fears are mounting not only over his recovery but over the future of the season itself, with the matador considered a central figure in the sport's current resurgence. Medical experts warn that while the muscular damage is severe, the greatest danger lies in the high risk of infection - a potentially life-threatening complication given the nature and location of the wound. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.