Two Matadors Sustain Severe Injuries in Successive Bullfighting Events at Seville's Maestranza Ring

Apr 24, 2026, 15:18

Introduction

Within a span of days, two prominent Spanish bullfighters have been seriously injured during separate bullfights at the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza in Seville. The incidents, which occurred in late April, have drawn attention to the inherent risks of the practice and elicited a range of public reactions.

Main Body

The first incident involved José Antonio Morante Camacho, widely referred to as Morante de la Puebla and known as the 'King of Bullfighters'. On April 19, during a performance in which he had already dispatched three bulls, a fourth animal, named Clandestino and weighing 512 kilograms, charged after a failed maneuver. The bull's horn penetrated the matador's rectum, creating a 10-centimeter wound near the posterior anal margin, partially damaging the sphincter muscles and perforating the rectal wall. Morante was subsequently hospitalized at Viamed Hospital, where he was initially placed in intensive care before being moved to a general ward. In a video shared with his followers, he described the goring as the most painful of his career and acknowledged experiencing significant fear, though he noted that blood loss proved minimal. He stated that he had a difficult night with little sleep and would need to remain without food for several days. Two days later, on the Thursday following Morante's injury, matador Roca Rey was gored in the same arena. During his fight, the bull struck him in the right thigh, lifting and tossing him multiple times before stepping on him. Assistants known as cuadrillas intervened to distract the animal, allowing Rey to roll away and be carried to safety. Medical reports documented a 35-centimeter wound with two trajectories—one ascending and one descending the leg. The injury caused serious damage to key muscles in the thigh, though no major blood vessels were compromised. Rey's condition was described as 'very serious'. The back-to-back gorings have prompted commentary both within and outside the bullfighting community. While some observers emphasize the skill and courage required in the contest, others have expressed disapproval of the practice. Social media responses to Morante's injury included remarks such as 'karma' and statements supporting the bull's self-defense. Bullfighting remains legal in Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador, but is banned in several other countries, including the United Kingdom.

Conclusion

The consecutive severe injuries to two leading matadors underscore the physical dangers inherent in bullfighting. Morante de la Puebla is expected to remain hospitalized for at least a week, while Roca Rey's recovery timeline has not been specified. The incidents have renewed debate over the ethics and safety of the tradition.

Vocabulary Learning

dispatched (v.)
killed (an animal) deliberately / 殺死（動物）；屠宰
Example:Morante de la Puebla had already dispatched three bulls before the fourth one charged.
goring (n.)
the act of being wounded by a bull's horn / 被牛角刺傷的行為；牛角刺傷
Example:He described the goring as the most painful of his career.
perforating (v.)
piercing through or making a hole in something / 穿孔；刺穿
Example:The bull's horn perforated the rectal wall, causing a serious wound.
trajectories (n.)
the paths followed by a projectile or wound track / 軌跡；路徑
Example:Medical reports documented a 35-centimeter wound with two trajectories.
underscore (v.)
to emphasize or draw attention to / 強調；凸顯
Example:The consecutive injuries underscore the physical dangers inherent in bullfighting.

Sentence Learning

The bull's horn penetrated the matador's rectum, creating a 10-centimeter wound near the posterior anal margin, partially damaging the sphincter muscles and perforating the rectal wall.
Participial Phrase (Result): This sentence uses three present participle phrases ("creating...", "partially damaging...", "perforating...") that function as adverbials of result, describing the immediate consequences of the penetration. They are non-finite clauses that add detail without a separate subject.這個句子使用了三個現在分詞短語（「creating...」、「partially damaging...」、「perforating...」），作為結果狀語，描述穿透的直接後果。這些是非限定從句，無需獨立主語即可添加細節。
In a video shared with his followers, he described the goring as the most painful of his career and acknowledged experiencing significant fear, though he noted that blood loss proved minimal.
Reduced Relative Clause: The phrase "shared with his followers" is a reduced relative clause (from "which was shared with his followers") modifying "video". Additionally, the sentence contains a concessive clause ("though he noted...") and a gerund phrase ("experiencing significant fear") as object of "acknowledged".短語「shared with his followers」是縮減的關係從句（源自「which was shared with his followers」），修飾「video」。此外，句子包含讓步從句（「though he noted...」）和動名詞短語（「experiencing significant fear」）作為「acknowledged」的賓語。
During his fight, the bull struck him in the right thigh, lifting and tossing him multiple times before stepping on him.
Participial Phrase (Accompanying Circumstance): The present participles "lifting", "tossing", and "stepping" (after "before") form adverbial phrases describing actions simultaneous or subsequent to the main verb "struck". They provide a vivid sequence of events without finite clauses.現在分詞「lifting」、「tossing」和「stepping」（在「before」之後）構成狀語短語，描述與主要動詞「struck」同時或隨後發生的動作。它們提供了生動的事件序列，無需使用限定從句。
Medical reports documented a 35-centimeter wound with two trajectories—one ascending and one descending the leg.
Appositive Phrase with Participial Adjectives: The dash introduces an appositive phrase that elaborates on "two trajectories". "Ascending" and "descending" are present participles used as adjectives modifying "one" (each trajectory). This structure adds concise, descriptive detail.破折號引入一個同位語短語，詳細說明「two trajectories」。「Ascending」和「descending」是現在分詞用作形容詞，修飾「one」（每個軌跡）。這種結構添加了簡潔的描述性細節。
The back-to-back gorings have prompted commentary both within and outside the bullfighting community.
Compound Adjective and Parallel Prepositional Phrases: "Back-to-back" is a compound adjective formed from two words joined by hyphens, modifying "gorings". The phrase "both within and outside the bullfighting community" uses parallel prepositional phrases ("within..." and "outside...") to indicate two contrasting spheres.「Back-to-back」是由兩個詞用連字符連接而成的複合形容詞，修飾「gorings」。短語「both within and outside the bullfighting community」使用並列的介詞短語（「within...」和「outside...」）來表示兩個對比的領域。