Scenes like this happen every year in bullfighting countries. Say what you like about the sport, that it is bloodthirsty, cruel and butchery; the fact remains that it takes a great deal of courage to step into the ring to face a bull bred solely for fighting. Look at this particular bull: his horns haven't been cut short or blunted, they are sharp and deadly. The bull isn't too heavy, he's trim and muscular and strong. This one has gone through the entire process of the fight: his shoulder muscles jabbed by the spear of the picador, tired by running after swift bandarilleros who leave barbed darts in his shoulders to weaken his shoulders further, forcing him to lower his head for the thrust of the killing sword, the espada, which can be seen jutting between the shoulders, the blade reaching down to the heart itself. Even with the deadly steel in his vitals the bull was able to raise his head in a thrust that caught the unwary matador in the chest, probably the moment after the sword went in; it's a vulnerable moment for the matador, and this man, Israel Lancho, paid the price for his lapse.
update: It's on YouTube:
Pretty grim footage. Since Lancho was suspended on the horn for at least 3 seconds, you can see that there was more than one damage vector from the horn inside his body. I should note for those unfamiliar with bullfighting that there is usually a fully-staffed emergency facility at each bullring, and an ambulance standing by to handle just this sort of situation. It doesn't guarantee that a bullfighter's life will be saved, but it increases his chances.
6 comments:
Most of the stories about this are naturally, in Spanish. Google's automatic translator is pretty lame, but it appears he survives (at least so far) with a serious lung injury. The funky translator seems to indicate that the horn barely missed piercing his heart.
You don't need to be a paramedic of my great skill to know that neither is particularly conducive to a long life.
Ouch.
@TOTWTYTR: The Spanish bullfighters collectively erected a statue to Alexander Fleming (discoverer of penicillin) in Madrid, I believe. Before antibiotics were developed, deaths from gorings were much more common.
@TOTWTYTR: two well-known matadors were gored to death while I lived in Spain, 1983-1986: Paquirri and El Yiyo. A Google Image search will turn up photos.
Well, I guess there has to be some risk to fighting a 1,000 or so pound wild animal. Every once in a while, the bull gets his licks in too.
It has nothing to do with Spanish Bull Fighting, but even without horns I've found most bulls are not to be trifled with. 1,500 lbs of angry animal is like being chased by a pissed-off pick up truck...without a driver.
All The Best,
Frank W. James
@Frank W. James: Frank, thanks for stopping by. Hope your eye is recovering well and that you are comfortable.
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