Two injured in final San Fermin bull run as festival ends
Two men were wounded during the last bull run of Spain’s San Fermin festival, and eight other participants received treatment for minor injuries.
The concluding bull run of Pamplona’s San Fermin festival on Tuesday left two men seriously injured. An 18-year-old local was struck in the thigh on the first turn when a bull collided with a small group of runners, while a 46-year-old from central Spain was pierced in the chest on the final stretch where the course narrows before entering the bull ring.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital for care. In addition, eight runners, including an 86-year-old visitor from Britain, required medical attention for less severe injuries.
The six fighting bulls and accompanying steers cover the 875-meter (957-yard) route in roughly two and a half minutes, a speed that often catches participants off guard amid the densely packed street course.
While the last fatality at the event occurred in 2009, injuries such as goring and broken bones are frequent, attributed in part to the large number of inexperienced participants and tourists joining seasoned locals. Many of the injuries result from falls caused by panic among the runners.