PAMPLONA, Spain — Six foreigners, including three Americans, were among seven people gored in a hair-raising second running of the bulls Friday at Pamplona’s San Fermin festival, the Navarra regional government said.
A 58-year-old Spaniard identified only by the initials F.L.R., a 73-year-old South African man identified as M.H.O., and a Canadian aged 48 with the initials P.C.O., were in serious condition after being gored, a government statement said.
The regional government said one American, 55, identified by the initials P.G.O., and another, 23, with the initials W.R.O., were gored but their injuries were reported to be less serious. A third, 46-year-old American with the initials J.G.O. and an Indian, 26, with the initials N.S.O. were also said to have suffered less serious goring injuries.
The regional government said nine others were taken to city hospitals for other injuries suffered in the run. Several of the six bulls used in the run got separated from the pack moments into the 8 a.m. run and began charging whatever came in sight.
The nine-day fiesta became world famous with Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises” and attracts thousands of foreign tourists.
Runners dash along with six bulls down a narrow 930-yard course from a holding pen to Pamplona’s bull ring. The bulls later face almost certain death in afternoon bullfights.
One runner, American Cindi Campbell, had a close call when she fell as one of the bulls came behind her. One man tried to protect her on the ground while her husband, Marshall Campbell, pulled the bull away by the horn.
“This was my first and last time,” said 53-year-old Campbell, an accountant from Cave Creek, Arizona, who only sprained her foot.
She said she had watched her husband and friend running Thursday and thought the bulls would just pass her by. The first one did but a second made a go for her.
“I’m lucky to be alive actually,” she said. “I still say I’m glad I did it. Because if I hadn’t done it I would regret it.”
Another bull repeatedly tossed a man about before being lured away by other runners.
More than 1,000 people took part in the run, which lasted nearly six minutes, more than twice the normal running time. The bulls weighed between 1,170 and 1,430 pounds.
Bull runs are a traditional part of summer festivals across Spain. Dozens of people are injured in the runs, mostly in falls.
Ten people, including four Americans, were gored in the San Fermin festival last year. In all, 15 people have died from being gored at the festival since record-keeping began in 1924.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.