One Gored, Seven Injured During Second Day of Pamplona’s Iconic San Fermin Bull Run

 A man was gored and seven others sustained minor injuries on Tuesday during the second day of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain—a centuries-old event that draws thousands of thrill-seekers to run alongside fighting bulls through the narrow, cobbled streets of the historic city.

According to a spokesperson for Pamplona’s emergency services, the gored individual, described only as being over the age of 25, suffered a puncture wound beneath his right armpit from a bull’s horn. “He is currently under observation but remains in stable condition,” the spokesperson confirmed to the press.

The additional seven participants experienced bruises and contusions, including injuries to the shoulder and head, though none were reported to be serious.

The daily morning event, known locally as the encierro, sees six bulls released from their pens and charged through an 875-metre course toward the city’s bullring, accompanied by hundreds of runners dressed in traditional white attire with red scarves. Tuesday’s run took a dramatic turn when one of the bulls halted mid-course and began charging erratically at participants for several minutes, heightening tension among the crowd.

Internationally renowned thanks to Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises, the San Fermin festival spans nine days each July and features not only the high-adrenaline bull runs and afternoon bullfights, but also nonstop street celebrations marked by singing, dancing, and revelry.

Despite the festive atmosphere, the risks are well documented. Injuries during the bull runs are a common occurrence, and Pamplona has recorded at least 16 fatalities since modern record-keeping began, the most recent occurring in 2009.

The festival also retains its religious roots, with several events held in honour of Saint Fermin, the city’s patron.