Matador 'seriously hurt' after stabbing bull in vicious fight

Rafael Serna suffered a 12-inch cut to his armpit and was taken to hospital

Spanish matador Ajejandro Talavante is hooked by the horn of a bull (CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images)

A night of bullfighting in Seville left matadors injured and bloody after they were gored by the animals they were fighting.

Rafael Serna was left severely injured in hospital after being stuck by a horn during his fight.

Alejandro Talavante received a wound to his upper thigh when he was picked up by a bull and slammed into the ground.

Both matadors won their fights, despite their wounds.

Mr Serna received the worst injuries of the evening, after he attempted to stab the 525kg animal he was fighting, a black bull called Almendrito.

The bull’s horn went into his armpit, tearing a 12cm gash and damaging the axillary vein.

The attack reportedly caused the Maestranza bullring to fall completely silent.

Spanish matador Rafael Serna (2ndR) is evacuated after being gored by a bull (CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images)

Mr Serna stumbled from the ring covered in blood and had to be carried from the ground to the infirmary.

His mother and sisters were seen running from their seats to his bedside, Diaro de Sevilla reported.

The other matador to be hurt, Mr Talavante, escaped with less serious injuries.

After stabbing the bull multiple times – it was seen with blood pouring down its back – the animal impaled its horn into the matador’s thigh.

Photos captured Mr Talavante being lifted off his feet, before being thrown to the ground by the bull.

He later killed the animal and cut off its ear as a trophy, showing it off to the crowd.