Running of the bulls: 2 injured, no gorings in 4th run at Spain’s San Fermin festival

PAMPLONA, Spain – Two people were injured as thousands of people tested their bravery and speed by dashing alongside six fighting bulls in the fourth bull-run of Pamplona’s San Fermin festival on Friday, officials said.

The San Fermin press office said there were no gorings in the morning run, but one person was hospitalized with an elbow injury while another was treated for a similar injury on the street after the event.

Four people — two Americans, an Australian and a Briton — have been gored since the runs started Tuesday. All but the Australian have since been released from hospitals in Pamplona.

The nationally-televised run sees people racing with six bulls along a narrow 930-yard (850-meter) course from a holding pen to the city’s bullring. Friday’s dash lasted 2 minutes, 24 seconds.

The bulls are killed by professional matadors in bullfights each afternoon during the festival.

The nine-day fiesta, which features 24-hour street partying, was made famous in Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises” and draws thousands of foreign tourists.

Bull runs are a traditional part of summer festivals across Spain. Dozens are injured each year, mostly in falls.

Two men died recently after being gored by bulls in festivals — one last Saturday in the eastern town of Grao de Castellon and another June 24 in the southwestern town of Coria.

In all, 15 people have died from gorings in Pamplona since record-keeping began in 1924 for the San Fermin festival.

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Ciaran Giles reported from Madrid.