An elderly British man was injured by a bull at the San Fermin festival, becoming the oldest participant to suffer harm in the annual event. The 86-year-old tourist from Halesowen, West Midlands, was one of 10 individuals injured on the final day of the Pamplona festival last Tuesday. He sustained multiple injuries, including a goring to his left elbow and wounds to his eyebrow and right hand.
In a separate incident, 24-year-old William Mitchinson, also from the UK, was hospitalized after being knocked down and trampled by the bulls during the running. Mitchinson, speaking from Navarra University Hospital with his ankle in a brace, mentioned that he participated in the event after seeing it on social media and described it as his first visit to Pamplona. He expressed interest in potentially returning in the future but solely for the festivities.
According to reports, two other runners were also injured by the bulls during the brief two-minute and 25-second run. One runner suffered a horn injury to the chest, while another was gored in the thigh. Additionally, a steer broke free from the group and charged at a cluster of men, resulting in one individual hitting his head on the ground upon falling.
The morning of July 14 marked the eighth consecutive day of crowded streets in Pamplona, Spain, with participants and spectators flocking to witness the traditional event. Images from earlier festival days captured the intense scenes of runners clad in red and white racing through the streets pursued by the bulls.
Photos depicted runners lying on the streets, seeking protection from the charging bulls as they passed by. In a prior run, one person suffered a goring to the face, while a dozen others required medical attention.
The annual festival in Pamplona attracts thousands of thrill-seekers and tourists, drawing inspiration from Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Sun Also Rises. The festivities provide a significant economic boost of €100 million (£85 million) to the local economy, with hotel rates soaring due to the influx of approximately one million visitors. However, the event faces criticism from animal rights organizations such as PETA and Spain’s AnimaNaturalis, who condemn the practice as barbaric and claim that the bulls ultimately face torture in evening bullfights.
Since the beginning of recorded history, 16 individuals have lost their lives while participating in the festival. The most recent fatality occurred in 2009 when 27-year-old Daniel Jimeno from Madrid was fatally gored by a bull named Capuchino.
If you want to stay updated with news, consider making Daily Mirror your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.
