A matador narrowly avoided death after being gored through the neck during a bullfighting contest, but miraculously returned to the ring to kill the raging animal.
Arturo Macias, 35, swerved death by centimetres after taking a horn just beneath his windpipe, during an event in aid of Mexico’s earthquake appeal.
The matador suffered the serious injuries during the festival, held in the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Aguascalientes in San Marco, Mexico on Saturday.
A bullfighter narrowly avoided death after being gored through the neck during a contest, but miraculously continued on as the event in San Marco was in aid of Mexico’s earthquake appeal. Pictures capture the moments before the events where Aruto Macias, 35, taunts the bull
Horrifying footage captures Macias taunting the giant 1,200lbs bull with his cape with the animal charging around him.
But after Macias misjudges the bull’s movements, he is charged to the ground and gored three times – with one of the wounds just missing his windpipe.
In the next scene he is seen being held up by fellow matadors holding his throat with a visible puncture wound.
The matador was seriously injured during the festival, held in the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Aguascalientes in San Marco, Mexico on Saturday. Macias misjudged the bull’s movements, and was charged down and gored three times – with one just missing his windpipe
The stricken matador was carried out of the ring into the infirmary where doctors told him he would be risking his life if he went back out to finish the fight.
But ignoring their advice, he returned to the ring where the eventually killed the bull before being rushed to hospital for a life-saving operation.
The bullfighter said he knew he was putting his life in his hands but had decided to continue with the tournament because he didn’t want to let the victims of the earthquake down.
Crumpling into a heap, the matador is pictured at the mercy of the powerful, 1,200lb bull. After being gored three times, one just beneath his windpipe, fellow matadors and onlookers rushed in to distract the beast from killing Macias
The stricken matador was carried out of the ring into the infirmary where doctors told him he would be risking his life if he went back out to finish the fight.Surgeons later found air had entered his chest and neck as a result of the gaping wound caused by the bull’s horn
Surgeons later found air had entered his chest and neck as a result of the gaping wound caused by the bull’s horn.
The bullfighter remains in hospital in intensive care following the emergency operation. Doctors have reserved his condition.
Despite being considered part of traditional culture in some Spanish speaking countries, bullfighting remains a controversial pursuit in many of the nations.
Considered a brutal blood sport in many quarters, the bulls are stabbed with a traditional sharp arrow like blade called a banderillas, eventually succumbing to blood loss and exhaustion. However, the bouts can be just as brutal on the matadors who are often injured
Considered a brutal blood sport in many quarters, the bulls are stabbed with a traditional sharp arrow like blade called a banderillas, eventually succumbing to blood loss and exhaustion.
Animal rights campaigners PETA have had success with a number of campaigns persuading travel companies not to include bull events in their holiday packages.
In June, a renowned bullfighter died after he tripped over his cape and was gored during a festival in France.
Macias was carried away but returned to finish off the bull. The matador said he did not want to let down the victims of an earthquake which the event was in aid of. In June, a renowned bullfighter died after he tripped over his cape and was gored during a festival in France
Ivan Fandino, a 36-year-old from Spain, had fallen to the ground as he got his feet caught in the material.
The married father-of-one’s last words were said to have been, ‘Hurry up, I’m dying!’ after he was carried out of the arena by fellow matadors.
While in 2016, Spanish matador, Victor Barrio, died in a fight in Spain.