Festival attendee receives face injury on fifth day of San Fermín bull festival Multiple more land in hospital

A runner was injured in the face by a bull’s horn and 12 others were taken to hospital after the fifth running of the bulls at the world-famous San Fermín festival turned dangerous, as thousands of participants and spectators filled the streets of Spain's Pamplona.

The incident occurred at one of the most hazardous points of the 875-metre route on July 11, where the sharp bend leading into Estafeta Street caused several bulls to lose their footing and collide with runners, as Sky News reports.

According to Navarra University Hospital, one participant suffered a horn injury to the face, while 12 other people were treated in hospital for injuries sustained during the run.

A black bull broke away from the group early in the race and charged into a cluster of participants, striking one person in the side of the face with its horn. It was unclear whether this was the incident that resulted in the reported goring.

The Estafeta bend is considered one of the most dangerous sections of the route because of the combination of high speeds, uneven cobblestones and the sudden change in direction. These conditions frequently cause both bulls and runners to fall.

The six fighting bulls, accompanied by steer guides, completed the route from the holding pens to Pamplona’s bullring in around two and a half minutes as crowds lined the streets for one of the festival’s most anticipated events.

Beyond the morning bull run, celebrations continued across the city with children’s activities, street performances, live music and the traditional children’s offering to San Fermín, followed by an afternoon bullfight.

Fireworks, concerts and late-night entertainment brought another day of festivities to a close in the northern Spanish city.

The San Fermín festival lasts eight days and this year’s event carries additional significance, marking 100 years since the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s novel "The Sun Also Rises", which helped introduce the festival to an international audience.

Although the bull runs remain one of Spain’s most famous cultural events, they are also known for their risks. The last recorded death during the San Fermín bull run occurred in 2009, but injuries including gorings and broken bones are frequent, partly due to the participation of inexperienced runners and large numbers of foreign visitors alongside veteran locals.

By Nazrin Sadigova