A runner sustained a serious facial goring while numerous other participants narrowly avoided major injuries during a chaotic bull run in Pamplona on Saturday. This event marked the fifth morning of the eight-day San Fermin festival in northern Spain.
The run, which spanned 875 meters from the pen to the bull ring, lasted approximately two-and-a-half minutes. Six bulls and their accompanying steers charged through crowds of thrill-seekers, creating a dangerous atmosphere on the narrow cobblestone streets. The size and speed of the animals led to multiple bodies being knocked to the ground, resulting in several pileups as runners stumbled.
According to the University of Navarra Hospital, 12 additional people required medical attention for various knocks sustained during the scramble. Early in the 875-meter (957-yard) route, a black bull separated from the pack and plowed into a group of participants, smacking one individual full in the side of the face with its horn. It was not clear if that was the moment of the goring, though many runners appeared oblivious to the proximity of the animals, which often shoved people aside rather than attempting to gore them.
This year’s festival holds special significance as it marks the centenary of the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s novel, “The Sun Also Rises,” which helped propel the San Fermin event to international fame. While no fatalities have been recorded at the festival since 2009, injuries such as broken bones and gorings remain common, particularly due to the influx of inexperienced runners and foreign tourists participating alongside seasoned locals.
Revelers fall next to Jose Escolar’s fighting bulls during the fifth running of the bulls at the San Fermín festival in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Revelers run alongside Jose Escolar’s fighting bulls during the fifth running of the bulls at the San Fermín festival in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
