buddahj Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 PAMPLONA, Spain – Two people were gored Thursday during a tense and dangerous second running of the bulls at Spain's famed San Fermin fiesta, and at least five other people were hospitalized after falling or being trampled by the hulking beasts, officials said. Thousands took part in the dash to keep ahead of six fighting bulls and six bell-tinkling steers tasked with keeping the beasts together along the 930-yard (850-meter) course from a holding pen to the northern town's bullring. The run lasted just under four minutes and produced panic when some bulls separated from the pack. One stopped just before entering the bullring and paced in circles threateningly while staring at the runners. Television images showed the first runner being gored in the chest and hurled like a rag doll to the cobblestones of one of the narrow streets where the bull run takes place in Pamplona's historical old quarter. He remained on the ground dazed until he was taken away by rescue workers. One man sustained serious injuries after being gored in the thorax, while a second man was gored in the left leg but was in better condition, said Fernando Boneta, a doctor at Navarra Hospital. The more seriously injured man was a 22-year-old Spaniard, while the other goring victim was a 43-year old man from Dublin, authorities said. The men were identified only by their initials. Five more people were hospitalized in Pamplona for less serious injuries, mostly broken bones and bruises sustained in falls as they ran, though the images clearly showed other people being trampled. They included a 49-year-old American, a 33-year-old Israeli and three Spaniards, the Navarra regional government said. Thursday's gorings were the first for the series of eight bull runs held during the nine-day street festival that also features around-the-clock drinking that attracts tens of thousands of Spaniards and foreigners. Cody Harrington, 22, was amazed at the size of the 1,100-pound (500-kilogram) bulls as he ran alongside them for the first time. "They were about up to my shoulders, and it was intense," the university student from Lake Tahoe, California said. "Once I saw them running right next to me I got to the side and it was shocking how big they were." His 62-year-old father ran as well. "It was a rush, definitely an adrenaline rush, the street is so narrow, you're right next to them and then they're gone like a shooting star," said Jack Harrington, a dentist on a tour of Europe with his wife, son and two daughters. An 18-year-old Australian who sustained three fractured vertebrae in the first race Wednesday remained hospitalized Thursday in serious condition, according to the El Diario de Navarra newspaper. He was identified by the newspaper as Nicholas Ward of Melbourne, and the young man's father, Howard, told the newspaper his son was expected to remain hospitalized for two weeks. An American was also injured Wednesday in another event during the San Fermin party in which calves are released into a bullring to be taunted by young men. The unidentified 22-year-old man sustained a ripped scrotum from a horn injury, El Diario de Navarra said. He received a stitch at the bullring from emergency workers and was hospitalized, according to the newspaper, which did not list his hometown. While gorings from the adult bulls with their huge horns are more likely to be fatal or cause serious injuries, the calves are also dangerous because they are more frisky, moving around the ring rapidly. A spokeswoman for the hospital where the Australian and the American were taken said Thursday that no one was immediately available to provide an update on their conditions or more details. The runs are broadcast live on Spanish television and the bulls that run each morning are killed in the evening in the bullring, their meat served up in Pamplona's restaurants. Dozens of people are injured in the runs each year. Gorings produce the most dramatic injuries and generate extensive comment and analysis in Spain's media, though most runners who end up hurt fall or are trampled. Last year's festival saw the first fatal goring in nearly 15 years. ___ Associated Press writer Ciaran Giles contributed to this report from Madrid. You get what you deserve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Cliche Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 If you mess with the bull, you get the horns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 on my bucket list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 The unidentified 22-year-old man sustained a ripped scrotum from a horn injury, El Diario de Navarra said. He received a stitch at the bullring from emergency workers and was hospitalized, according to the newspaper, which did not list his hometown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Agent Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 I'm a bulls fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Darwin in action. I feel zero sympathy and cheer for the bulls every time. Enjoy your pain you loons, you earned it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonkis Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 The potential piercing of the applebag is enough to remove it from bucket list contention for me. Should wear a cup and a kevlar vest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 The potential piercing of the applebag is enough to remove it from bucket list contention for me. Should wear a cup and a kevlar vest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 on my bucket list. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 No desire to intentionally place myself in a position where I have to run for my life from a wild animal whose primary intention appears to be to kill me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myhousekey Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 (edited) Random side note....I have friends who help organize San Fermin in Nueva Orleans down in NOLA. They rave about what a great time it is and I hope to get down there for it eventually. Plus, you don't run the risk of getting gored by an actual bull. Edited July 9, 2010 by myhousekey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 If you mess with the bull, you get the horns Mr Cliche strikes again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 No desire to intentionally place myself in a position where I have to run for my life from a wild animal whose primary intention appears to be to kill me. What does Detroit have to do with this? Or is it Chicago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westvirginia Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 No desire to intentionally place myself in a position where I have to run for my life from a wild animal whose primary intention appears to be to kill me. I dunno, it might be fun if you have a dangerous game rifle in your hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 I dunno, it might be fun if you have a dangerous game rifle in your hands. My understanding of 'running with the bulls' is that the individuals do not have weapons. As such, I stand by my original post. All the excitement I require in my life is safely navigating the minefield imposed by my wife during her monthly 'time.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westvirginia Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 My understanding of 'running with the bulls' is that the individuals do not have weapons. As such, I stand by my original post. All the excitement I require in my life is safely navigating the minefield imposed by my wife during her monthly 'time.' I was thinking of a safari in Africa. That being said, I'll take the bull over the "monthly time"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 I was thinking of a safari in Africa. That being said, I'll take the bull over the "monthly time"... What do you think the bulls are running from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 I was thinking of a safari in Africa. Why? It's completely beyond me why anyone would want to travel halfway across the world to kill a wild animal. And then have the f'n balls to call it "hunting". Flat cowardice, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Why? It's completely beyond me why anyone would want to travel halfway across the world to kill a wild animal. And then have the f'n balls to call it "hunting". Flat cowardice, IMO. Maybe because it is hunting - at least could be. I'm not a fan of game preserves where fair chase does not take place, but there is plenty of real hunting in Africa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 What does Detroit have to do with this? Or is it Chicago? Chicago. yknow the Bulls. (ba-dum-tssh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 Don't tell me an angry, 2000 lb this wouldn't be exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 Maybe because it is hunting - at least could be. I'm not a fan of game preserves where fair chase does not take place, but there is plenty of real hunting in Africa. Hunting my ass. Any buffoon can bring down a wild animal with a rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
untateve Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Hunting my ass. Any buffoon can bring down a wild animal with a rifle. When I hunt, I wear only a loin cloth and my only weapon is a knife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Hunting my ass. Any buffoon can bring down a wild animal with a rifle. Shooting them isn't usually the hard part. Maybe I'll look into a bear hunt while I'm in Alaska this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Hunting my ass. Any buffoon can bring down a wild animal with a rifle. +1 It's like deer hunters....hell, just come sit on mah porch and watch the deer come out to graze at sunset. No skill whatsoever to kill them. You have a high-powered rifle and they'd just stare at you from they perceive to be a safe distance. What a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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