A serious incident disrupted the third running of the bulls at San Fermín in Pamplona on Thursday morning, July 9, when a US participant was gored in the Telefónica section. Emergency services also treated fourteen other runners for injuries during a high-speed encierro lasting 2 minutes and 22 seconds. The run featured bulls from the Victoriano del Río ranch and drew attention for its pace and the number of medical interventions required.
From the start, the Victoriano del Río bulls appeared in exceptional physical condition, quickly overtaking the cabestros after the Santo Domingo slope. The herd moved as a tight group, but one bull slipped before the curve, opening the first gaps in the pack. As the bulls rounded the Mercaderes corner, they cleared the left sidewalk and narrowly missed a runner in a blue shirt. The most intense moments came on Estafeta, where a fall involving three bulls split the herd. Two bulls and the cabestros surged ahead, with four others close behind.
The encierro route runs through Pamplona’s streets from Santo Domingo to the bullring, passing through Mercaderes, Estafeta and Telefónica. Runners share the narrow course with bulls and cabestros, where falls and close proximity can create danger even without a direct horn thrust. Several runners were knocked down or trampled. One was hit by a cabestro, while another fell directly in front of a bull. The animal leapt over him, avoiding a more serious incident. None of the bulls made direct horn thrusts in Estafeta, though falls and the runners’ proximity to the animals kept the risk high. In Telefónica, the bulls showed brief signs of aggression toward the right side but did not pursue anyone. Some runners near the barriers were nevertheless knocked over as the herd passed.
The final stretch into the bullring was tense, with the bulls entering in a line and spaced far enough apart for runners to attempt last-minute sprints. Medical teams reported fifteen injuries in total, including the goring of the American runner in Telefónica. Other injuries included multiple contusions in Mercaderes, Estafeta and Espoz y Mina. The draw for the evening’s bullfight will feature these same Victoriano del Río bulls. Talavante and David de Miranda are scheduled to perform, as is Roca Rey, making his first of two appearances.
Safety concerns at San Fermín have grown in recent years, particularly as crowding and the bulls’ speed increase the risk of serious injuries. This incident follows a pattern seen in previous editions, including the case of a Basque runner forced to leave the festival after being trampled during the opening encierro, as detailed in a recent report on another San Fermín injury.
San Fermín remains one of Spain’s most iconic festivals, attracting thousands of participants and spectators from around the world. The encierro is both a cultural tradition and a logistical challenge for local authorities, who coordinate medical response and manage security each morning, including crowd control. The Victoriano del Río ranch, known for producing bulls with a balance of bravery and nobility, has been a fixture in Pamplona for fifteen years. Athletic animals and dense crowds continue to test the limits of safety and tradition at the event.
