Matador pierced through armpit by rampaging bull
WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: A matador is fighting for life after a rampaging bull pierced his armpit and tossed him metres into the air.
Just seconds after the 500kg bull was released into the ring in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Sergio Flores was in trouble.
Unable to step around the beast, a kneeling Flores was picked up immediately and tossed several times as helpers desperately tried to steal the bull’s attention.
Laying motionless on the ground, officials feared the worst for the Mexican matador who was bleeding profusely.
Medics initially thought the bull’s horn had penetrated Flores’ neck.
They later confirmed he suffered three very serious puncture wounds, causing substantial damage.
Flores is thought to be in a critical condition inside the city’s main hospital.
While it is the most severe, it's not Flores' first close call in the ring.
He was gored during a similar festival in June 2013.
Flores was gored without serious consequences by his first bull, during the bullfight on the ocassion of the Art and Culture fair held at Las Ventas bullring in Madrid.
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Earlier this year a renowned Spanish bullfighter was gored to death after he tripped over his cape while performing at the Aire-sur-l'Adour in France.
Ivan Fandino stumbled in the bullring after catching his feet in his cloak and was gored by the bull, whose horn punctured his lung.
Fandino had won an earlier fight and cut off the bull's ear but just seconds after entering the ring later, things took a tragic turn.
The father-of-one was heard yelling “hurry up, I’m dying” as his fellow matadors carried him from the arena.
His injuries were too severe and he died in hospital soon after.
