Spanish bullfighter gored through throat

A Spanish bullfighter is in intensive care after being gored through the throat.

Julio Aparicio, 41, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a bull's horn pierced through his jaw and lower neck, under his chin and back out of his mouth.

Doctors performed an emergency tracheotomy and reconstructed his throat, jaw, tongue and roof of the mouth in a six-hour operation, the Telegraph reported.

"It was a serious goring. Almost his entire mouth was destroyed," said his father, a retired matador.

The half-ton bull caught him under the chin after he lost his footing and stumbled while executing a pass with his cape at Las Ventas bullring in Madrid.

Aparicio's agent said he expected him to make a full recovery.

Aparicio comes from a famed bullfighting family and was one of the stars of the San Isidro festival, Spain's biggest annual bullfighting event which draws tens of thousands each year.

- NZHERALD STAFF