1 person gored in panic-filled 3rd running of the bulls at Spain’s San Fermin festival

1 gored in 3rd San Fermin bull run

PAMPLONA, Spain — One man was gored and two others injured in a panic-filled third running of the bulls Friday at Spain’s San Fermin festival.

The run lasted 6 minutes, 23 seconds — more than double the usual time — after one of the six bulls separated from the pack and caused several moments of fear as he tried repeatedly to charge runners.

Professional bull keepers, helped by the more experienced runners, finally coaxed the bull into the arena to end the run.

Navarra Hospital’s Dr. Fernando Boneta said one person was gored in the thigh. Two others were hospitalized for head and rib injuries, respectively. The cause of their injuries was not immediately known. Their identities were not released.

Thousands of people took part in the morning dash ahead of the bulls and six bell-tinkling steers who try to keep the beasts together along the 930-yard (850-meter) course from a holding pen to the northern town’s bull ring.

At least three people were seen to be tossed by the bulls in television replays of the 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) event.

Light early morning rain left the route in Pamplona’s historic old quarter slippery, causing the bulls and many of the runners to skid and fall repeatedly.

Two people were gored in the run Thursday and remained in a hospital.

The runs, eight in all, are the highlight of the nine-day street festival, which also features around-the-clock drinking that attracts tens of thousands of people, many from abroad, eager to party.

The event is 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 in Spain’s media. Last year’s festival saw the first fatal goring in nearly 15 years.

Associated Press Writer Ciaran Giles contributed to this report from Madrid.