Pamplona Bull Run: Paul Vachier

Officials prepare to watch the bull run

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:10:19 GMT

The "Encierro", or running of the bulls takes place during the Feast of San Fermin, July 7 -14, in Pamplona, Spain. Pamplona (or Iruña in Basque) is in the Navarra region of Spain, where Basque is the traditional language. It is an ancient festival that takes place every year. The bulls are run through the streets from their holding pen to the bull ring, where they will be fought later in the day by some of Spain's best bull fighters. Thousands of people come for the party and festivities, and many of them participate in the run. Injuries and deaths are not uncommon, as the bulls are some of Spain's fiercest, and can easily attack or trample any of the runners (as you will see in the following photos).

Preparation

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:09:29 GMT

Thousand of runners don the traditional garb: white shirt and pants with a red sash around the neck and waist. The red makes the runners a better target for the bulls. The first "Encierro" takes place at 8am in the morning. Most everyone has been partying and drinking all night at this point. The crowds gather by the thousands, many of them having arrived hours earlier to get the choicest positions. I arrived here at 3am and waited 5 hours to get my coveted spot, less than 20 feet from the action.

Joining the Runners

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:09:19 GMT

Last minute runners leap from the crowd of onlookers to the street below. This location is on Santo Domingo street, near the start of the run and very close to where the bulls will first leave their pen before travelling a half-mile up the winding streets of Pamplona's old quarter.

Waiting for the Start

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:09:47 GMT

Nervous runners begin to contemplate what lies ahead.

Saying their Prayers

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:09:38 GMT

Just a few seconds before the start, the runners pray to San Fermin 3 times. At this point the tension is enormous and the crowd of thousands anxiously awaits the spectacle about to unfold.

Bulls Arrive Quickly

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:09:55 GMT

Rockets go off and within seconds of release the bulls are charging up the street and runners scrambling to get away. They run so fast that it is impossible to outrun them, the only hope is to move to the side at the last minute and hope their horns don't catch you as they go by.

Runner Gored by Bull

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:07:41 GMT

An unlucky runner is gored by a black bull (upper left). The black bulls are the most dangerous of all, bred specifically for fighting and meanness of temper. This runner was seriously injured and you can see the blood spurting as the bull pins him against the wall.

Going for the Attack

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:10:02 GMT

Travelling at breakneck speed, the same bull heads straight for another runner who nervously tries to avoid the deadly horns.

Close Call

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:07:49 GMT

Amazingly, this runner avoids the sharp horns while others cautiously line the wall. They can only hope the bulls will keep running straight ahead, as there is no other escape possible.

Bulls Continue Carnage

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:07:56 GMT

Only fractions of a second later, the bulls continue up Santa Domingo street. Several people already lie injured.

Encierro Continues

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:10:12 GMT

After 5 hours of waiting, the spectacle is over in less than 5 seconds. The bulls continue their rampage through the center of town while onlookers snap cameras furiously.

Tame Bulls

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 16:36:14 GMT

Shortly after the first group of bulls is released, a second set of tame bulls is let free to run down the street. Since bulls are herding animals, the purpose of this group is to clear any "stragglers" from the first group. The stragglers are the most dangerous, because they don't like being seperated from the herd and get scared. This herd also ensures that all the rest end up in the bull ring, where yet more people are trying to escape their sharp horns.

Medical Attention

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:08:03 GMT

I counted at least 4 people injured in the one block area that I could see from my vantage point. The medics arrived immediately to attend to the wounded.

Wounded

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:08:12 GMT

This man was gored in the leg.

Seriously Wounded

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:08:20 GMT

This is the man whom you saw pinned against the wall earlier. He received serious wounds to the leg and head.

Badly Wounded

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:08:27 GMT

The same man, bleeding badly from a head wound is carried away by the Red Cross.

Distraught Onlookers

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:08:36 GMT

The scene from this vantage point was especially gorey.

Bloody Street

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:08:42 GMT

Passersby looking at bloodied street. This is where the man was pinned against the wall.

In Shock

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:16:03 GMT

Another wounded man is carried away in shock.

Ambulance Awaits

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:08:51 GMT

Ambulance awaits to carry away the wounded. It was a busy morning for them.

More Wounded

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:08:58 GMT

Another wounded runner is attended to. The medics were very professional and knew exactly how to treat the wounded. They were clearly prepared for anything.

Contemplation

photos(at)transmitmedia.com (Paul Vachier) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:09:08 GMT

Another runner contemplates his luck while viewing the scene later that morning.