Famous Spanish Matador Struggles To Eat Or Sleep After Brutal Rectal Goring

A famous Spanish matador has been left with a severe injury after what he described as the most painful goring of his life during a bullfight in Seville.

Morante de la Puebla, who is often known as the 'King of Bullfighters', was rushed to the hospital on Monday after suffering a serious injury to his rear end during the traditional event at the Maestranza arena.

Bullfighting has been debated for many years, but it still holds a strong place in Spanish culture. Millions of people continue to support it, while many others strongly oppose it because of the danger and animal suffering involved.

Those concerns come from the risks faced by both the bullfighters and the bulls. The danger can be deadly, as one man was gored to death in Colombia last year.

Morante is widely seen as one of the best matadors in the sport, but his future in bullfighting may now be uncertain after Monday's (20 April) shocking incident. The bull charged at him and drove its horn into his rectum.

The injury was so serious that it raised immediate concerns about his recovery, especially given the force and speed of a charging bull in such a close-range setting.

Morante de la Puebla was carried from the field by fellow matadors Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images

'It was the most painful goring ever'

"I was in immense pain, felt a lot of fear because I saw the bull had grabbed me and, well, I thought I was bleeding," he said in a video shared on Instagram from his bed at a local hospital.

"By the time I got to the infirmary and saw that the bleeding was minimal, I relaxed quite a bit, but of course, it hurt a lot. Without a doubt, it was the most painful goring ever."

The matador had already dealt with three of the four bulls in the ring when the fourth and final bull charged while his back was turned.

Morante tried to use the traditional drop of the cape, known as the muleta, to draw the animal away. But this bull seemed fixed on reaching him and did so with frightening accuracy, leaving the fighter with a painful four-inch tear.

Images from the scene showed the 46-year-old clutching his bottom while lying hurt on the floor. Four other matadors then helped carry him away from the ring as he was taken for medical care.

He is now recovering in the hospital after an injury that could have had even more serious consequences, given where the horn struck and the damage it caused.

Morante was left with a four-inch tear in his rectum Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images

A frightening moment in the ring

The incident showed how quickly a bullfight can turn from a controlled performance into a medical emergency.

Even experienced matadors rely on timing, movement, and distance to stay out of the bull's path. When that timing fails, the result can be devastating.

For Morante, who has built a long reputation in the ring, the attack became one of the most painful moments of his career and may now shape what comes next for him.

'The truth is, I’m in a lot of pain'

Morante may be fortunate to still be alive when considering the kind of damage a bull can cause. Last year, a 22-year-old bullfighter in Portugal died after being slammed into a wall by a powerful bull.

In his update, Morante also suggested that he has been struggling to eat or sleep. Doctors inserted a catheter to help give his body the nutrients it needs while he recovers from surgery to repair his rectal wall and sphincter.

"The truth is, I'm in a lot of pain. I've gone through a pretty normal night of little sleep. I've got no appetite, and I'm hoping to get through it with, well, with a bit of patience", he concluded.

When he finally gets his appetite back, it is hard not to wonder whether beef will be the last thing he wants on the menu.

Calls have been made globally to put an end to bullfighting ANDER GILLENEA/AFP via Getty Images

A long recovery ahead

For now, Morante's main focus appears to be healing from the surgery and getting through the pain that followed the goring.

Injuries involving the rectal wall and sphincter can be serious, and recovery may take time even after a successful operation. His lack of sleep and appetite shows how difficult the days after the incident have been.

Whether he returns to the ring remains unclear, but the injury has already raised questions about how much longer he can continue in such a dangerous profession.

The history of bullfighting and why it's so controversial

Bullfighting has been part of Spanish culture for centuries and is often seen as one of the symbols of Hispanic tradition. Fights also take place in Portugal, France, and parts of Latin America.

In more recent years, however, more people have called for bullfighting to end because of the suffering bulls go through during the events.

Humane World for Animals estimates that around 180,000 bulls are killed in bullfights around the world. Supporters of bullfighting argue that if the matador aims correctly, the bull can die within seconds, but a fast and clean death is not what usually happens.

In many cases, the matador misses the correct target. This can injure the bull's lungs and bronchial tubes, causing blood to flow and bubble from the animal's mouth and nose while extending its suffering.

Bullfighting is now banned in countries including Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Italy, and the UK.

The debate around the practice remains intense. For some, it is a long-standing cultural tradition, while for others, the risk to humans and the suffering of animals make it impossible to defend.