Thousands take to the streets of Pamplona for the third running of the bulls at Spain’s controversial San Fermin festival with seven men left needing hospital treatment

• Bulls stampeded through the city’s streets for during the world-famous running of the bulls festival
• This year’s San Fermin is the first since 2019 after a two year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic 
• Seven men had to be treated in hospital after being injured by the bulls on the street and in the bullring 
• Runners in traditional red and white dress run in front of the bulls to try and leap out of the way just in time  

Thousands of spectators narrowly avoided being gored as bulls charged through the streets at Pamplona’s famous San Fermin festival today (July 9).

Seven men needed hospital treatment after being injured by the bulls, which stampeded down the city’s narrow streets before being fought in the bullring.

One man was scratched by a bull’s horn and another was lacerated in the ring.

Reports had initially suggested two men had been stabbed by the bulls’ horns, but officials later said that no one had been seriously injured.

However, there were several close calls as the bulls rampaged through the streets of the city in northern Spain.

Six bulls and six tame oxen charged through the streets, surrounded by crowds of thousands for around three minutes

A bull stampedes through Pamplona’s cobbled streets at the beginning of the ‘encierro’, which celebrates the city’s patron Saint, St Fermin

Festivalgoers grab on to fences at the side of the road to get out of the bulls’ path as they storm through the city

A man is helped by paramedics after being injured in the bull running. Seven people needed hospital treatment on July 9 but no one has so far been gored

Spectators run for cover during the famous running of the bulls in Pamplona, northern Spain on the third day of the 2022 festival

A bullfighter is rammed by a bull’s horns in the Plaza de Toros de Pamplona after the animals are herded through the city

The bullfighter summersaults out of the bull’s path. Bullfighting in Spain dates its history back to as early as the eighth century 

Thousands of festivalgoers lined the streets wearing traditional white t-shirts and bright red neckerchiefs. 

The crowd guided six bulls and six tame oxen through the 875-metre course through Pamplona’s old quarter in the third event planned this year in the first San Fermin festival since 2019.

Several onlookers were bowled over and stomped on by the bulls amid the chaos.

Expert runners that take part in the historic festival run directly in front of the bulls before trying to jump out of the way at the last minute without being injured –  with varying success.

The bulls stampede through the city’s old quarter for around three minutes, egged on by the surrounding crowd and runners

Participants do their best to run in front of the bulls and jump out of the way in time – with varying success. Authorities said no one was seriously injured 

The enormously popular festival in Pamplona has been running for centuries and still attracts tens of thousands every year

Pamplona’s narrow streets make it difficult for festivalgoers to outmaneuver the bulls. At least 18 have been injured in three days of the eight day festival 

At the last festival in 2019, eight people were gored by the bulls before a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Five others were hospitalised in the first day of festivities on July 7, and six were injured on the second day.  

The running of the bulls in Pamplona is thought to date back to the 13th century. It began as a way of clearing the streets for traders to get their bulls through the city, with the animals goaded on by locals and runners to reach the bullring. 

It is now the main event of the San Fermin festival, and a chance for thrill-seekers to test their courage by running alongside, or in front of, the bulls.

After being herded at speed through the cobbled streets for around three minutes, the bulls are fought in the ring – an even more dangerous task – and killed.  

Since 1910, 16 people have died and many more have been injured, with the last death at the event in 2009.

The running of the bull’s was brought to the English-speaking world in large part by Ernest Hemingway’s description in his 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises. 

It continues to draw thousands of spectators, and daredevils, from around the world.

The bulls rampage through the city as spectators scramble to get to safety. The running of the bulls attracts daredevils from all over the world 

After the stampede, the bulls are fought in the city’s famous bullring and killed as part of the festival which goes back to the 14th century 

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