28 People Injured At Spanish Bull Run Festival
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28 people have been injured at San Fermin bull running festival in Pamplona, according to Spanish health officials. Of the 28 separate incidents, two people were even gored by bulls.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
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Tomas Belzunegui, a spokesman with Navarra's provincial hospital, confirmed that six people were hurt in Saturday's run, which was the final - and fastest - run of the seven-day festival.
The six people were left severely bruised after being trampled by the bulls, and one person was apparently carried away on a stretcher, having been dragged several metres by a bull when his scarf got hooked to its horn.
While there have been no fatalities this year, the controversial event has led to 15 deaths since its inaugural festival in 1925.
Earlier this year, however, a man was gored to death by a bull at another festival in Spain, which takes place every Easter Sunday in Arcos de la Frontera, Andalucia.
Disturbing video footage of the incident shows the man being cornered by the bull while onlookers try and get its attention to encourage it to leave the man alone.
Despite his attempts to outmanoeuvre it, the bull knocks the man off his feet and begins to toss him around
Town mayor Isidoro Gambin expressed his 'support and affection' for the friends and family of the deceased.
Bull-runs are, by their nature, dangerous, but it doesn't seem to put people off going along to events. However, the controversial tradition has been met with much criticism from many animal rights' groups demonstrating and protesting against it.
David Bowles, the RSPCA assistant director for public affairs, told The Huffington Post: "The RSPCA is strongly opposed to bullfighting. It is an inhumane and outdated practice that continues to lose support, including from those living in the countries where this takes place such as Spain, Portugal and France."
During a protest, Aida Gascon, a campaigner for AnimaNaturalis, said: "From tomorrow in this city, more than 50 bulls will be tortured to death.
"They will be persecuted and led by a crowd to the bullring, the plaza of shame and the last minutes of their lives will be full of suffering and torture.
"We know that we will not be able to stop these deaths but we will continue here so that those deaths do not go unnoticed."
A group called Bullfighting Is Violence (TEV) also estimates 20,000 bulls are killed in bullfighting and bull runs in Spain every year.
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: World News, News, Spain, Animals
