Six Injured (Including a 73-Year-Old Man) as Spain Kicks Off ‘Running of the Bulls’ Festival
- Posted on July 7, 2012 at 9:39pm by
Erica Ritz
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A reveler is tossed by a Dolores Aguirre Yabarra ranch fighting bull during the running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona Spain, Saturday, July 7, 2012. (Daniel Ochoa de Olza/AP Photo)
(The BlazeAP) — One elderly thrill-seeker was gored in a leg and five others slightly injured as thousands of adrenaline-fueled runners raced ahead of six fighting bulls in the streets of the northern Spanish city of Pamplona in the first running of the bulls of this year’s San Fermin festival, officials said Saturday.
Runners, in traditional white clothing and red kerchiefs around their necks, tripped over each other or fell in the mad daredevil annual rush along early morning dew-moistened slippery streets to the city’s bull ring.
One youth got the top of his shirt and kerchief caught on a bull’s horn, inches from his face, and was dragged several yards (meters) along the ground, but was seen to get up and run away.
Revelers in Pamplona's main square raise their traditional red neckerchiefs to celebrate the start of Spain's most famous bull-running festival. (Alvaro Barrientos/AP Photo)
The gored runner, a 73-year-old Pamplona resident, was taken to a local hospital and five others were treated for cuts and bruises, the regional government of the province of Navarre said in a statement.
Among those who received medical attention were a 21-year-old Japanese person from the city of Ikeda and a 26-year-old Australian national, the statement said.
The San Fermin running of the bulls festival became world famous with the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises.” It is also known around the world for its wild all-night street parties which commemorate the city’s patron saint.
Fans kiss in Spain's trash-littered streets before the festivities begin (Photo: Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP)
On Saturday, the massive bulls belonging to the Dolores Aguirre breeding ranch raced from a holding pen on the outskirts of town, where they spent the night before the run, along a 849-meter (928-yard) course to the ring in 2 minutes, 53 seconds, a relatively slow time. Last year’s opening run was completed 23 seconds faster.
The last bull in the pack became disoriented and charged into the ring several seconds after the leaders. Once in the bullring it caused panic as it chased several runners around before being coaxed into the safety of stables by cape waving attendants.
“Running with the bulls was the best experience I’ve had, so much adrenaline,” said Mark Martinez, 27, a student from Los Angeles, California, who said he was in Spain on a 10-day vacation. “I couldn’t touch the horns, I might try that tomorrow,” he said.
Onlookers on the Estafeta corner run with Dolores Aguirre Yabarra ranch bulls during the first running of the bulls at the San Fermin fiestas, in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Serious runners, referred to by the cognoscenti of the fiesta as “los divinos” – the divine ones – because of their ability to survive close brushes with death, would never attempt to touch the animals.
The ornery beasts used in this centuries-old fiesta can weigh some 500-plus kilogram (1,100-pounds) and have killed 15 people since record keeping began in 1924.
The most recent such tragedy came in 2009 when a young Spaniard was gored in the neck as he tried to escape a bull by sliding feet-first under a fence separating the course from the crowd watching the run. It was the first death at San Fermin in nearly 15 years.
“Spain is different to anything I’ve experienced before,” said Michael Arraztoa, 25, from Bakersfield, California. He said his dad was from originally from Irurita, not far from Pamplona, and that he too was over on summer vacation.
The 8 a.m. runs take place daily until July 14 with each charge broadcast on state television. And then, on the afternoon of each day, the same bulls face matadors in the ring.
The Telegraph has nerve-wracking video:
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Comments (62)
DontCompromiseMorals
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 6:02amSick….simply sick. This falls into the same category as dog fighting.it is beyond me, how people can find it entertaining to watch animals suffer in such a way. Sickening.
Report Post »ISeeDanger.com
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 8:11amDarwin….. nough said.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:32pmDANGER
Report Post »Stole my thunder. Idiots and they wonder why their country is in trouble. Wonder if their socialized health plan covers “idiot induced trauma syndrome”.
SurfinRallylizard
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:34pmIf you eat chicken and beef, you’re a hypocrite. If you buy cheap crap from China, India, Taiwan etc.. you’re a hypocrite. You supposedly have morals when there’s a shred of entertainment and history to events causing an animals death, but you don’t seem to mind genetically altered chickens without feet, or stuffing them in cages never to see the ground, cattle pumped up with hormones who are raised and slaughtered for productivity without regard for much humaneness. Are you okay with hunting dogs going after hogs, birds, or varmints? If so, you’re okay with dogs going after other animals just not each other… hypocrite again… what about horse racing, dog racing? At least try and be consistent with your “moral” stances.
Report Post »LIBSALWAYSLIE
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:55pmThose running with the bulls think they’re showing their courage, I say they’re showing their stupidity.
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 2:18pmThe only idiots I see are the ones that oppose this time honored tradition. Of course YOU wouldn’t understand something not of YOUR SUPERIOR culture. You make me sick.
But you know what really irks me? That somehow LIBERALS and YOU have this in common amonst yourselves. You will BAN such traditions because of either; A) they impose unnecessary costs under socialized medicine, or B) those poor animals!
If YOU dont like it SHUT UP and mind your own damn business. That, my ignorant friend, is FREEDOM.
CobraBill
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 5:10pmThat bull is stuck on stupid.
Report Post »izukiddin
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 9:12pm@surfinlizard
What‘s wrong with eatin’ real food? Meat is my favorite veggie. And, load on the steroids and chemicals. It makes ‘em tender and juicy!
Report Post »FlamingFartSyndrome
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 11:08pmIts called freedom.
Report Post »Ravings of a lunatic planet
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 5:34amBull’s 6, Moron’s 0! Go Bulls.
Report Post »nostromo
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 8:08amGot your panties is a twist, I see.
Report Post »MRMANN
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 4:36amToo bad more people were not injured in this barbaaric & inhumane practice.
Report Post »TrueSoundsOfLiberty
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 4:04amPreviously The Blaze posted a story about animal abuse in factory farms and there was quite a number of comments condemning the practice. Where is the outrage for this display of cruelty? There have been a few comments about the ONCE AGAIN legalization of horse slaughter (there was only a 5 year ban due to lack of funding for inspectors). But where is the outrage for this and other cruel “sports”?
Let’s see some outrage over rodeo and circuses where animals are tortured relentlessly for years in order to force them to perform.
As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields
Report Post »-Leo Tolstoy
lukerw
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:15am‘Death Race 20’12… Spainish edition!
Report Post »WatchingAmericaDie
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 2:10amSpain is bankrupt, so this is a great way for Spaniards to forget how pathetic their country is. We‘ll be doing something similar in the US soon because we’re also broke. When the world turns its attention from Europe to the US, watch out because things are going to get ugly here.
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 1:26amI gotta say…it looks like fun. I think I’m going next year
Report Post »servant100
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 1:10amAs per Star Trek…”Beam me up Scotty…there’s no intelligent life down here…”
Report Post »NAT1138
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:20amAs someone who has actually run with the bulls (4 of the 8 days in 2004), it is one of the most dangerous, chaotic, ridiculous, adrenaline-packed, stupid, scary, exhilarating things you can ever do in your life!
Can’t wait to go back someday and run with the bulls again…
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:56amThere has always been something in me that makes me want to do it. I am guessing I better sh*& or get off the pot as I am not getting any younger.
What is it? Is it the rush of battling an unknown power? I have tried to figure out why people (myself included) are attracted to the insanity of it.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:18amI don’t understand the attraction here. But then again, I don’t stab animals for fun.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:11amSpain should have made all their socialist politicians run with their legs hobbled to a Spanish banker :)
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:22amBull what, oh the bull run I thought Obama was giving another speech and was fertilizing the air ways again, why didn’t he run he could of borrowed a nice red jogging suit.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:10amCrazy people. Great photography.
Report Post »voodoolife
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:03amI’m a Taurus, GO BULLS!
Report Post »ourig
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:54pmwhat a stupid people…… we need the bulls in Washington
Report Post »SurfinRallylizard
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:42pmSpain is awesome, awesome wine from tempranillo, raging bulls, tons of beautiful women and Portugal is nearby with stronger booze. Sex, alcohol, crazy fun with ridiculous dangerous animals, oh, and free drugs laws… ahh, freedom is grande. If only they could figure out the fiscal part of it, would be so great… meanwhile, in other news, America still doesn’t allow free shipping of wine (free the grapes!), criminalizes sex workers (free market, supply/demand, hello?), outlaw cockfighting but allow billions of chickens to be mutilated and never set foot on the ground each year, and whose tax code is one giant behavior modification tool (marriage, babies, school, home ownership… leave me alone already). People just can’t leave other people alone, let them make choices (stupid or smart) and live with the consequences. Apparently that is too hard. In the meantime, go to Spain, enjoy the bulls.
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:21pmAttending the this festival is on my bucket list.
Report Post »Maji
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:26pmAKA…Herding of the idiots
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 1:01pmAttending not running.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:00pmLets see; the Bulls represent Wall Street and the Runners represent OWS.
Why not have real Bulls run though every OWS event? The videos would be awesome.
Report Post »moonlight on the bay
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:48pmMuy estupido y peligroso. I will be rooting for the bulls in any event of this kind.
Report Post »FreedomWitness
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:46pmGo BULLS Go! Yeah Bulls!
Report Post »IdahoAdrienne
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:44pmWhat a ridiculous spectacle of stupidity…
Report Post »VanishingFreedom
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:04pmTook the words right out of my mouth!
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:41pmCalling Officer Barone! Officer Robert Barone!!
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:35pmDid Spain Surrender to the Bulls like they did to the Taliban?
Report Post »flatbroke
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:29pmThe poor bulls are the smartest one there. they run because they are afraid, the stupied people are the ones running in front of the bulls. I saw a vid once of a guy running with the idiots, he got a horn up the ass, i just ROFLMAO! hense the old saying ” you mess with the bull, you get the horns!
Report Post »GdHUs
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:45pmI got a bull’s horn up my a$$ therefore I am a man. A couple inches further up and I would have been less than a man.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:12pmhey look ……….looney liberals trash the place there too
you would think they could figure out what a trash can is for by now
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:07pmWe get “Running of the Bull” from D.C. every day!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 10:41pmHIP Boots are not tall enough for what comes from DC!
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