A British pensioner's narrow escape from injury serves as a poignant reminder of the risks inherent to Spain's infamous Pamplona running of the bulls festival. The 86-year-old man, hailing from Halesowen in the West Midlands, was among dozens of participants injured during the recent eight-day event, which saw him taken to hospital on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, for treatment of injuries sustained to his right hand, left elbow, and right eyebrow.
Although festival organisers reported that the elderly man's injuries were not severe, the incident contributed to a total of 57 recorded injuries throughout the Sanfermines festival. This year's event drew thousands of thrill-seekers and spectators from around the world, including many UK residents drawn to the festive atmosphere.
The Sanfermines festival, officially known as Sanfermines after Saint Fermin, is an annual spectacle that has captivated audiences for over a century. Each day features 'encierros' or runs, where participants dash through Pamplona's narrow streets ahead of a pack of six powerful fighting bulls. The event's 848.6-metre course leads from a holding pen to the city's bullring, with each morning's run beginning at 8am.
On the final day of the festival, two Spanish men suffered gorings among other injuries. An 18-year-old local man was gored in the left thigh, while a 46-year-old man from Guadalajara in central Spain sustained a horn injury to the chest. Thankfully, neither of these incidents appears to be life-threatening.
While the festival's risks are well-documented – with trampling and gorings being all too common – it remains a major draw for international visitors. A staggering 16 fatalities have been recorded during the runs over the past 116 years, with the most recent death occurring in 2009 when Daniel Jimeno Romero, a 27-year-old local man, was fatally gored in the neck and lung.