One runner was gored in the face and at least 12 others were injured during a chaotic bull run at Spain’s San Fermin festival on Saturday. The six bulls and accompanying steers charged through crowds of thrill-seekers packed into the narrow street course in Pamplona. The University of Navarra Hospital reported that one runner was pierced by a horn in the face, while the other 12 required medical treatment for various injuries.
A black bull broke away from the pack early in the 875-meter (957-yard) run and plowed into a group of people, smacking one full in the side of the face with a horn. It was not clear if that was the moment of the goring. Many runners appeared unaware when bulls were close behind them, and instead of goring them, the bulls often just shoved people out of the way.
Saturday’s run was the fifth of eight scheduled during the eight-day festival in northern Spain. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises, which brought the festival international fame. The last death at San Fermin’s bull runs occurred in 2009, but gorings and broken bones are common, partly due to the large number of novice bull runners and foreign tourists who join the experienced locals.
Americans are the leading group of foreign participants, with 16% of the bull runners in 2022 being American, according to Pamplona’s City Hall. The festival is a cherished local custom for Spanish daredevils, but the presence of inexperienced runners contributes to the higher injury rates.