Pamplona: A further six people were injured on Sunday as bulls were driven through the narrow streets of Pamplona for the seventh time this week, as this year's edition of the iconic, yet controversial San Fermn festival nears its close.
According to Ghana News Agency, the narrow, winding 800-metre course leading to the bullring saw numerous people get injured, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross told Spanish channel RTVE, citing preliminary figures. Five people were brought to hospital, including one of the bull runners who was hit by a bull's horn in the genital area, according to the spokeswoman.
The latest, and penultimate bull run in the northern Spanish city saw numerous falls, as shown in the broadcast by RTVE. In two instances, bulls pushed runners out of the way using their heads, causing both the men and the animals to fall. Another runner managed to get to safety in a bend, but his red shirt was impaled by the horn of a passing bull. However, he was able to free himself after a few seconds.
The festival is held in honour of the city's patron saint, San Fermn, and has been celebrated in the northern city of Pamplona every July since the late 16th century, despite the protests in recent decades of animal rights activists. Each morning at 8 am for eight consecutive days, six fighting bulls and several tame oxen are driven through the old town's narrow streets to the bullring, where the evening's bullfights take place. There, the bulls are killed by matadors in traditional bullfights. The final run will take place on Monday.
The bulls' long, pointed horns can cause fatal goring injuries. Since 1924, 16 people have died during the runs. Many of the mostly male runners attempt to race in front of or alongside the six bulls, often trying to touch their horns or backs as they run. On Sunday morning, one runner fell during the run and was overrun by the animals, according to the live broadcast.
