Four hospitalized amidst the final bull run in Spain
The bull run that occurs in Spain every year isn’t just fun and games. For some, it means extended stays at various hospitals.
One victim in particular was a 23-year-old Australian woman who was gored in the abdomen while she clung to wooden barriers on the outside of the bull ring’s entrance, according to regional health authority spokesman Javier Sesma. Appropriate to her dangerous position near where the bulls were entering, it makes sense that after arriving at the hospital it was seen that she suffered several rib fractures and damage to her right lung. There is no word on how she is doing now but she remains in serious condition.
It is actually quite rare for women to be injured during these dangerous runs. Only two other women are recorded to have been injured during the runs because of the majority of male participants. The ban on female participants was lifted 39 years ago, according to the IB Times.
The other injuries were from a 39-year-old man from California, a 23-year-old man from Madrid and two men from Navarra, but their injuries were minor in comparison. They only suffered from cuts and bruises after being tossed from bulls or falling during the run.
Ironically, though, what makes the onlookers tear up is not the serious condition of the runners, but seeing the bulls get killed at the end by the bullfighters. While the bulls are led to their own demise, people do have things like family and friends that would miss them and make their loss much more detrimental than the bulls’. The participants put their lives into question when they take part in this courageous and exciting event, trying to be a part of something bigger than themselves. But let’s hope next year the participants will be more careful and thoughtful with where they prioritize their livelihoods.
