Spanish Oddities
14 year old Spanish bullfighter critically injured in Mexico
By h.b.
Apr 17, 2007 - 12:48 PM

A 14 year old Spanish bullfighter has been seriously injured after being gored in the ring in Mexico.

Jairo Miguel was advertised as the youngest bullfighter in the world when he first went to Mexico two years ago, reportedly to escape a ban in Spain on bullfighters who are under 16 years of age. Since then children bullfighters have seen an increase in popularity in Latin America.

He suffered the severe injuries after being gored in the thorax and dragged by the bull some distance in a fight last Sunday. The goring missed his heart by just two centimetres, but split one of his lungs in two according to reports. He is however expected to survive his injuries.

The manager of the bullring in Aguascalientes where the incident happened, Juan Carlos López, has told the press that children even younger have taken part in bullfights there, though he decline to specify their ages.

There are some reports of 12 and 13 year old fighters in Mexico.