Three people were gored at the final bull run at the annual Pamplona festival in Spain, bringing this year’s total gorings to eight.
A bull flipped one runner over its horns and slammed him onto the cobblestone street, before clipping another two who were trapped against a wall.
The injuries happened during the San Fermin festival, when people run alongside bulls through twisting streets to a bullring, where the animals were speared to death.
A bull broke from the pack of six during the run, prompting panic among the runners, and gored two Australians and a Spaniard, health officials said.
The man who had been tossed by the chocolate-coloured bull called Rabanero was gored in the leg, while another man was gored in the right arm and a third in the armpit, according to a hospital spokesman.
1/12 Spain
A wild cow leaps over revellers into the bull ring after the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona in 2015
2/12 Spain
A runner falls in front of Tajo y la Reina fighting bulls at the entrance to the bullring during the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
3/12 Spain
Runners fall in front of Tajo y la Reina fighting bulls at the entrance to the bullring during the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
4/12 Spain
Runners, or mozos, are chased by bulls from El Tajo y la Reina ranch during the second bull run of the Fiesta de San Fermin in Pamplona
5/12 Spain
An El Tajo y La Reina ranch fighting bull falls to the ground as it takes the Mercaderes curve during the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
6/12 Spain
A wild cow leaps over revellers into the bull ring after the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
7/12 Spain
A wild cow leaps over revellers into the bull ring after the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
8/12 Spain
A runner is gored by a bull, from El Tajo y la Reina ranch, at bullring at the end of the second bullrun of Sanfermines in Pamplona
9/12 Spain
Revellers run with the Tajo and the Reina’s fighting bulls entering Estafeta street during the third day of the San Fermin Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona
10/12 Spain
A Del Tajo la Reina’s bull falls during the second “encierro” (bull-run) of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona
11/12 Spain
Revellers run with the Tajo and the Reina’s fighting bulls entering Estafeta street during the third day of the San Fermin Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona
12/12 Spain
Runners enter the bullring during the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona in 2015
1/12 Spain
A wild cow leaps over revellers into the bull ring after the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona in 2015
2/12 Spain
A runner falls in front of Tajo y la Reina fighting bulls at the entrance to the bullring during the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
3/12 Spain
Runners fall in front of Tajo y la Reina fighting bulls at the entrance to the bullring during the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
4/12 Spain
Runners, or mozos, are chased by bulls from El Tajo y la Reina ranch during the second bull run of the Fiesta de San Fermin in Pamplona
5/12 Spain
An El Tajo y La Reina ranch fighting bull falls to the ground as it takes the Mercaderes curve during the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
6/12 Spain
A wild cow leaps over revellers into the bull ring after the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
7/12 Spain
A wild cow leaps over revellers into the bull ring after the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona
8/12 Spain
A runner is gored by a bull, from El Tajo y la Reina ranch, at bullring at the end of the second bullrun of Sanfermines in Pamplona
9/12 Spain
Revellers run with the Tajo and the Reina’s fighting bulls entering Estafeta street during the third day of the San Fermin Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona
10/12 Spain
A Del Tajo la Reina’s bull falls during the second “encierro” (bull-run) of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona
11/12 Spain
Revellers run with the Tajo and the Reina’s fighting bulls entering Estafeta street during the third day of the San Fermin Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona
12/12 Spain
Runners enter the bullring during the second running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona in 2015
He said the wounds were not life-threatening.
The Red Cross reported several other injuries from people being knocked by bulls and steers, or from runners tumbling out of the way.
This year’s previous seven bull runs resulted in five people being gored – three Spaniards and two Americans.
Sixteen people have died in Pamplona’s bull runs since 1910, the last one in 2009.
The San Fermin fiesta attracts an estimated million party-goers each year. Many revellers stay up all night or rise early enough to watch from balconies or barricades.
Bullfights are protected under the Spanish constitution as part of the country’s cultural heritage.
The bull runs are controversial because the animals are said to be terrified by the race, then “tortured” in the bullring.
Animal-rights group Peta says at least 48 bulls a year at Pamplona suffer a slow, painful death as they are repeatedly stabbed.
“Many bulls are paralysed but still conscious as their ears or tails are cut off as trophies,” according to the group.
Support for bullfights that kill about 7,000 animals a year in Spain is waning, with 56 per cent fewer official fights last year than in 2007.
