Third bull run in Pamplona: Numerous injured at San Fermín festival

Course and Dangers of the Bull Run

Among those injured in this run was also a 29-year-old American, who was struck by a goring to the left arm. A total of 13 participants were seriously injured during the run through the narrow streets of the city in northern Spain, the organizers further announced.

Injuries during the bull runs are not uncommon: This year too, animal rights groups protested against the traditional event, which has been held since 1591 but is now also controversial in Spain. The San Fermín festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world every year, including numerous tourists from Europe, Asia, the USA, and Australia.

History and Fatalities

The last fatality during a bull run in Pamplona occurred in 2009. According to the organizers, a total of 16 fatalities have been recorded during the runs since 1924. The risk to participants has been known for decades and is nevertheless consciously taken on by many young men.

Hemingway's Legacy and Tourist Appeal

The festival gained international fame in part through the American writer Ernest Hemingway, who wrote about Pamplona in his first major novel "The Sun Also Rises" (1926) and described the bull run in detail within it. To this day, Hemingway's portrayal is considered one of the most powerful literary depictions of Spanish tradition.

This year's festival in honor of the city's patron saint San Fermín began on Monday and ends, according to the organizers, next Tuesday. Until then, further Encierros, as the bull runs are called in Spanish, will take place daily through the streets of Pamplona. Further injuries are also to be expected in the coming days, as the fighting bulls continue to be driven through the old town daily.

Safety Measures and Upcoming Runs

The authorities and paramedics are present with reinforced rescue forces in the old town throughout the festival days in order to be able to treat the injured quickly. In advance, the organizers point out the dangers of participation and recommend keeping a sufficient distance from the animals. Nevertheless, some serious injuries occurred again on Thursday.