Matador Enrique Ponce is seriously injured when a bull gores him in the backside

Matador is seriously injured when a bull tosses him in the air and gores him with its horns at a festival in Valencia

  • Enrique Ponce, 47, was pierced in his lower backside at annual Fallas festival
  • He suffered a five-inch gore injury to his buttock – and torn knee ligaments
  • Veteran bullfighter hobbled for a couple of feet before aides rushed to lift him

This is the painful moment a Spanish matador is left seriously injured after being tossed into the air by an angry bull.

Enrique Ponce was dumped on the ground after the animal’s horn pierced his lower backside.

The 47-year-old also suffered ligament damage after landing on his left knee as he fell.

He was carried to hospital for an emergency operation after the drama, which happened at a bullring in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia on Monday afternoon during its annual Fallas festival.

Enrique Ponce is pierced by the bull’s horn in his lower backside as he is thrown in the air during the annual Fallas festival, in Valencia on Monday

The 532-kilo bull, named Declamador, sends Ponce flying during the horrific incident

The 532-kilo bull, named Declamador, sends Ponce flying during the horrific incident

As the matador lies dazed on the ground, he is further gored by the massive beast

As the matador lies dazed on the ground, he is further gored by the massive beast

Ponce suffered a five-inch gore injury to his lower gluteus (buttock) and torn knee ligaments, said his doctor, Cristobal Zaragoza.

The bullfighter, who is married to model Paloma Cuevas, is expected to have to undergo a second operation on his knee, which he had already injured last year.

TV footage showed him lying stunned on the ground for a few seconds before getting up in pain and hobbling for a couple of feet as aides rushed to lift him and carry him away in their arms.

The 532-kilo bull that felled him was named as Declamador.

Aides rush to help Ponce and then carry him out of the arena. He injured his knee last year and is now expected to undergo another operation on it

Aides rush to help Ponce and then carry him out of the arena. He injured his knee last year and is now expected to undergo another operation on it

Ponce is married to model Paloma Cuevas (above, together). The veteran bullfighter is expected to need another operation on his knee, which he had already injured last year

Ponce is married to model Paloma Cuevas (above, together). The veteran bullfighter is expected to need another operation on his knee, which he had already injured last year

Father-of-two Ponce, one of Spain’s leading bullfighters, was badly gored in the same Fallas festival in 2014.

Las Fallas is Valencia’s biggest festival. It takes place every march in commemoration of Saint Joseph.

Groups of people in each neighbourhood of the city produce a construction known as a falla which is eventually burnt.

Bullfights also take place as part of the annual festival, which was added to UNESCO’s cultural heritage of humanity list in November 2016 – a list which serves to raise awareness of heritage and recognition of traditions.

Animal rights campaigners made their feelings known as footage of the moment Ponce was gored started to emerge.

One said: ‘I love happy endings.’

Another wrote: ‘How beautiful it is to see the bull triumph when it is used for such a stupid spectacle.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk