Spanish bullfighter Morante de la Puebla, known as the “King of Bullfighters,” is facing a long recovery after being seriously injured in the ring.
The 46-year-old was gored during a performance at Seville’s Maestranza arena after successfully facing three bulls earlier in the event. The sudden charge left him unable to escape, and he was quickly rushed to surgery.
Speaking from his hospital bed, he described intense pain and fear in the moment of impact, saying he thought he was bleeding heavily. Although he later learned the bleeding was minimal, he called it “the most painful goring ever.”
“I’m in a lot of pain,” he said, adding that he is struggling to sleep and eat and is currently being fed through an IV.
The injury is expected to sideline him for an extended period. The incident has also reignited debate over bullfighting in Spain, with critics and animal rights groups calling attention to its dangers and pushing for a ban.