The half ton bull called “Querido Viejo” which translates as “My Dear Old Friend” charged at the bullfighter as she was kneeling on the ground.
The bullfighter suffered a broken and punctured upper palate and fractured cheekbones after the incident on May 3.
It’s not the first time Hilda has been injured in this dangerous occupation. in 2010 she was gored in the face and required 80 stitches.
A las 10 de la mañana la #Matadora #HildaTenorio ha sido ingresada a cirugía con pronóstico grave y el rostro literalmente fracturado en varias partes (maxilar/paladar/pómulos y órbitas oculares a reserva de descartar más lesiones) . La operación durará alrededor de 6 horas pic.twitter.com/m5uKvU0ZDW
— Plaza de toros El Relicario (@ElRelicarioPue) May 4, 2019
Following the incident, Hilda lay motionless as onlookers rushed in to help her, after being pinned to the side of the arena for a brief moment.
Later, Hilda posted these words on her Facebook page:
“I want to thank everyone for their expressions of affection.
“The injury is very serious and I have had a difficult night without being able to sleep, sitting because there was no other way.
“Doctors have said, after doing a tomography, that I have fractured my upper jaw (the palate is completely broken.)
“I am still waiting for the scheduled operation at 10 am which they said will last approximately 6 hours or more.
Thank you”
In 2010, Hilda Tenorio became the third Mexican woman ever to achieve the status of bullfighter in this male-dominated tradition, according to The Independent.
“To the best of my knowledge there have only ever been 14 female matadors in the worldwide history of bullfighting,” she said at the time.
See the moment Hilda was attacked by the bull in the clip below. Some readers may find these scenes distressing.
https://twitter.com/anonymus_sin/status/1125036560091680768
Sending our well wishes to Hilda for a speedy recovery. But, I cannot blame the bull for trying to defend himself.
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