THE bullfighting boyfriend of the King of Spain’s niece is in a serious condition after being gored through the thigh and groin.

Matador Gonzalo Caballero appeared at the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid, Spain, in a tournament to mark Hispanic Day, yesterday.

8 The matador boyfriend of the King of Spain's niece has been gored in the ring Credit: Rex Features

8 Gonzalo Caballero was fighting in Madrid to celebrate Hispanic Day yesterday Credit: Rex Features

8 His royal girlfriend was looking on from the crowd when the massive bull ruptured his femoral artery Credit: Rex Features

The 27-year-old was nearing the end of his fight and had already pierced the bull with a traditional dagger when it got to its feet and charged at him.

Watching the fight from the VIP seats was his 19-year-old girlfriend, Victoria Federica, who is King Felipe VI's niece.

The matador was nearing the end of his fight and had already pierced the bull with a traditional dagger when it got to its feet and charged at him.

He was gored in the leg before being tossed in the air and speared again by the bull's horns which severed the femoral artery in his groin.



'GRAVELY ILL'

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE The story of bullfighting BULLFIGHTING is a Spanish tradition that dates back centuries that has seen matadors make millions. The sport, called la corrida de toros, grew out of knights on horseback jousting bulls and its current form was introduced in Spain in the 1700s. Now it has grown into a tradition, which centres on the matador dressed in traditional imperial Spanish costume attempting to tame a raging bull before killing it in a ritual sacrifice. Only Hollywood actors and the football stars of clubs such as Real Madrid earn more than leading matadors. And stars such as José Tomás have been paid as much as a million euros for a single afternoon, while novices pocket only a few hundred. Almost all the cattle that enter the ring will die, with only a few pardoned for their excellent charging and then used for breeding purposes. It has faced a backlash along with other blood sports that say it is cruel to confront bulls at close range with red capes and swords. Surveys show public support for bullfighting has waned in recent decades in Spain. A poll from 2017, carried out for World Animal Protection, found that only 19 per cent of adults in Spain supported bullfighting, while 58 percent opposed it.

Both wounds were between 9 and 12 inches deep.

Staff at the bullring were forced to intervene as they retrieved him from the ring and tried to stem the bleeding.

He was operated on in the bullring infirmary for more than two hours before being transferred to the San Francisco de Asis Hospital, Madrid.

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Caballero is said to be “gravely ill” and remains in a “very serious” condition.

He had just returned to the bullring after recovering from a previous goring five months.

His May injury was also to the leg and required surgery, leaving him needing crutches for some time.

8 His fellow matadors rushed him to safety after he was gored Credit: Rex Features

8 He was operated on in the bullring infirmary for more than two hours before being transferred to the San Francisco de Asis Hospital, Madrid. Credit: Rex Features

8 Caballero is said to be “gravely ill” and remains in a “very serious” condition. Credit: Rex Features

8 Gonzalo and Victoria pictured as the Madrid tennis open earlier this year Credit: Getty - Contributor

8 Victoria is the niece of King Felipe VI of Spain Credit: Rex Features