The famous San Fermín festival bull run, in Pamplona, Spain, took place on Thursday, after having taken a break for three years due to the pandemic. 

Six people were brought to the hospital, including an American man with a broken left arm, and a 16-year-old girl who lost part of her finger. Four Spanish men were also injured. Thousands of people attended.

The event featured six bulls thundering through the narrow cobblestone streets of Pamplona for about two and a half minutes, surrounded by six tame oxen. 

Spectators lined the streets with the hope of seeing the wild bulls without getting gored to death. Runners, mostly experienced locals, try to sprint in front of the bulls and pull away without getting gored. 

The bull run is a national tradition. With the three-year break, and the isolation from the pandemic, people were excited to get out and get the adrenalin flowing, it seems.

Along with the fun and excitement, many runners were trampled or thrown to the ground, and a couple of people got knocked in the head with a bull horn. 

An interviewed American tourist from California said the risk of injury was worth it. He said it was one of the best experiences he ever had. 

Thursday’s morning bull run will be followed by seven more. After the bull run, revelers celebrate with eating and drinking, generating a lot of income for local businesses. 

The price? Eight people were gored in the 2019 festival, and 16 people have died since 1910. The last death was in 2009.

Did you know that the bulls that are run in the morning are killed in the afternoon? Animal rights activists have been fighting against this tradition but it is still a major part of the San Fermín festival.