The man admired by many Spaniards as the finest bullfighter ever seen is recovering in hospital after being gored by a bull during his comeback from retirement.

José Antonio Morante, more commonly known by his matador’s moniker Morante de la Puebla, suffered the injury on Sunday, while bullfighting in Seville. Video footage showed him being lifted off his feet as the bull’s horn punctured his buttock, before colleagues drew the animal away from him by distracting it with their capes.

After initially being in a very serious condition with the 10-centimetre wound, which perforated his rectum, Morante is now recovering.