The running of the bulls for the Sanfermines has witnessed authentic tragedies, and since the year 1900 up to 16 people have lost their lives in the popular race. The last death, however, was recorded in 2009, when Daniel Jimeno Romero suffered a horrifying clavicle injury. Four years later, a situation occurred that could have caused another drama and which, however, ended without deaths. In the running of the bulls on July 13, 2013, 10 years ago now, a human stopper at the gates of the Plaza de Toros left 23 injured by crushing or bruising and two by bull horns. The consequences, however, could have been much worse.
They were, in fact, a few decades earlier. In the running of the bulls on July 9, 1977, a heap in the alley of the Plaza de Toros caused the death of José Joaquín Esparza Sarasibar, a 17-year-old from Pamplona, after the blow caused by a hoof of one of the bulls fractured three ribs and, as a consequence, it caused fatal internal bleeding.
The tragedy, how could it be otherwise, had consequences in confinement. In subsequent years, cat flaps were set up in the alley, at ground level, as an escape from possible piles.
In 2013, however, there was a spectacular stoppage that left unprecedented graphic and audiovisual documents. It was the consequence of a host of factors.
The first has to do with the massive aspect of that confinement. It was Saturday and it coincided with the eve of the National Holiday in France. The streets of Pamplona were packed with people, and the running of the bulls was no exception; on the contrary, the tour was full of participants, some of them inexperienced.
The race was extremely dangerous, with several fucks, tumbles and even small piles on Estafeta street. Nothing, in any case, compared to what would be seen at the entrance to the bullring.
There was another key and definitive factor, which had to do with the opening of the access doors to the Plaza de Toros. One of the leaves of the gate leading to the arena was involuntarily closed and narrowed access to the arena on a day with an extraordinary influx of runners. The pile was already impressive before the bulls arrived, which also lined the alley scattered. The 12 animals (6 halters and 6 bravos), however, did not charge and simply remained trapped between a huge human plug, seeking access to the arena. Skin to skin, the morlacos, up to 600 kilos, and the runners piled up in a spectacular pile.
The images speak for themselves. The runners were torn between the survival instinct, the willingness to help those who were trapped without knowing exactly how, and the determined collaboration to help those who were trapped. No clear solution was in sight, until a sandman decided, at his own risk, to open the access door to the alley. The horned men lined it up and in a few meters they found access to the plaza.
Nine of the 23 injured were discharged in a few hours, although it was feared for the life of a 19-year-old from Vitoria, who suffered chest trauma from being crushed. He evolved very favorably and was discharged a week later.
The two injured by bull horns, a 23-year-old Australian and a 35-year-old American, needed more time, although they ended up coming out ahead.
