- While thousands avoided the animals’ horns, two people were injured Tuesday
More Pamplona daredevils have been injured under the hooves of bulls on the third day of festivities, with two men taken to hospital with minor injuries, local government sources in the Spanish city said.
According to the University Hospital of Navarra, two men, aged 24 and 29, suffered from injuries to their face, but none were caused by direct contact with the bulls’ horns and are not life threatening.
Dramatic pictures showed revellers stumbling and covering their heads as they tried to outrun the rampaging fighting bulls on Tuesday morning in the dangerous race – which takes place over 850 metres through the city’s narrow streets.
This comes after one participant was gored over the weekend, and five more suffered bruising.
A 37-year-old man from Beriain near Pamplona where the annual festival takes place every July has so far suffered the only gore injury this year.
Revellers run during the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain on Tuesday
‘Mozos’, or runners, are chased by a group of bulls of the Herederos de Victoriano del Rio ranch as they run together through the streets during the third ‘encierro’, or running of the bulls, of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on Tuesday
Some runners, are overrun by a group of bulls of the Herederos de Victoriano del Rio ranch running through the streets during the third ‘encierro’ on Tuesday
The other five casualties included a 54-year-old man from New York. All six runners who needed hospital treatment were males.
Sixteen people have been killed at the annual festival since records began in 1910, most recently in 2009, while many more are injured as they try to outrun the wild beasts.
The festivities, which include the bull runs as well as concerts, religious processions and copious amounts of wine, were made famous by 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel ‘The Sun Also Rises’.
The curtain went up on nine days of festivities on Saturday as thousands filled the city’s main square for the ‘chupinazo’ – the firecracker which launches an event dating back to medieval times.
Revellers dressed in the must-wear white outfits with a red bandana around their necks celebrated by soaking each other in wine and sangria.
Two men were injured on Tuesday’s run, but according to University Hospital of Navarra, their injuries were not life threatening
Revellers fall during the third day of the running of the bulls in Pamplona on Tuesday
During San Fermin celebrations, it is traditional to wear white and a red sash and handkerchief
Revellers surround a wild cow, at the San Fermin festival
Tuesday morning’s 8am bull run was the third of eight so-called ‘encierros’ which is the highlight of the festival.
Led by six steers, the bulls started their half-mile run through the streets of Pamplona’s old town.
According to commentators, this morning’s run was ‘fast and clean’, only lasting 2 minutes and 26 seconds.
But bulls were seen colliding with runners as they headed towards an alleyway.
The bulls that run each morning are killed in the afternoon by professional bullfighters.
ive women attend the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival yesterday in Pamplona, Spain
Revellers attend the parade of ‘Gigantes and Cabezudos’ (Giants and Large Head Puppets) as part of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona on Sunday
Revellers wait on the fence for the start of the first ‘encierro’
Between 200 and 300 people are usually injured in the run each year at the festival during the bull runs, often including foreigners from Britain, the US and Australia.
The most recent death was in 2009 when 27-year-old Daniel Jimeno, from Madrid, was gored in the neck by a bull called Capuchino.
Animal rights activists campaign against the festival every year, saying it is cruel to animals who are goaded and then killed in front of baying crowds.
The annual festival honours the city’s first bishop and patron saint, San Fermin.
The bull run has its origins in the old practice of transporting bulls from the fields outside the city, where they were bred, to the bullring, where they would be killed.
During this ‘run’, local youths would jump among them in an attempt to boast their courage.
Bull runs are practiced in several towns and villages across Spain and in some cities in Mexico. The Pamplona run is considered the most famous.
A ‘recortador’ (bull trimmer) jumps over a bull in the Plaza de Toros bullring during a show after the first day of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on Saturday
A recortador is run over by a raging bull in the Plaza de Toros bullring during a show after the first day of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
Participants covered their heads as the bull leapt over them as it was driven into the arena
A participant is hit by a young cow during a show after the second ‘encierro’ (bull-run) of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona