Matador is gored through neck on his debut
A BULLFIGHTER taking part in his first public tournament as a fullyfledged matador was gored through the throat, mouth and tongue.
Daniel Garcia Navarrete, 23, was pierced several times by a 1,000lb bull, in front of a 10,000- strong crowd at Spain’s largest arena, Las Ventas in Madrid.
Mr Navarrete was fighting for his life last night with one wound nearly 8in deep, and another penetrating 6in through the roof of his mouth and the base of his tongue.
The bull also severed the matador’s sciatic nerves, broke his collarbone and caused extensive muscle damage.
He was treated first at the bullring’s infirmary and was said to be lucky to have sur-
‘Shaking him like a rag doll’
vived. Surgeons at the Hospital San Francisco de Asis who performed an emergency operation said his injuries were ‘severe’.
Shocked spectators described the scene as ‘horrific’. ‘There was blood on his neck and a hole in his thigh,’ said one member of the crowd. ‘The bull was literally shaking him about like a rag doll.’
It was believed to be Mr Navarrete’s debut at the Las Ventas bullring, marking his passing from novice status.
Mr Navarrete, from the southern Spanish city of Jaen, was resting in hospital yesterday, a spokesman for the bullring said.
Last month, Juan Jose Padilla, a one-eyed matador who has been injured some 40 times, was hit so hard by a bull that his glass eye flew across the ring.