Two serious following bull goring at Fiesta

AN American and a Spaniard were gored and at least four other runners were taken to hospital yesterday after the eighth and final running of the bulls at Pamplona’s San Fermin festival.

Robert Fluhr, 27, of Arkansas, was gored in the buttocks. Jose Lorente Garcera, a 30-year-old from Valencia, was gored in the right leg. Doctors said both were in a serious condition.

At least four other runners were rushed to hospital for treatment after being trampled by the bulls.

A lone white and black bull who became separated from the herd created one of the tensest runs of this year's festival.

Separated from the pack after it attacked a runner and slipped on the cobbles, it stopped and turned to face the oncoming runners.

It charged at one, apparently goring him, before being coaxed away by other runners.

The six animals were from the Torrestrella ranch renowned for breeding bulls that are easily distracted. A bull from the ranch was responsible for the last fatality of the bull run in 1995.

A relatively low number of runners during today's run kept the injury-count down. There have been 11 gorings in this year's eight runs just above the yearly average of seven to 10. Since records began in 1924, 13 people have been killed at the festival.