New Zealander hurt in running of bulls

A New Zealander gored during yesterday's running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, was operated on last night.

The 25-year-old man, who was earlier incorrectly named as David MacDowell, would remain in hospital until he was fit to travel, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said today.

She said a family member was with the man.

The man's family had asked that he not be identified.

He was reportedly gored in the thigh and was one of six people injured as thousands of runners scrambled down Pamplona's narrow cobblestone streets early on Friday chased by a pack of massive bulls in the first run of the famous San Fermin festival.

A New York man was paralysed below the waist while dodging the bulls among a crowd of revellers, festival organisers said.

The 31-year-old was taken to intensive care after he was hurt while trying to escape from a bull when the animals were released in Pamplona's bullring following the running of the bulls through the town's streets.

Another four people were injured dodging six half-tonne bulls from the Marques de Domecq ranch, including another New Yorker and a Briton on the first day of the week-long festival.

While the festival made famous internationally by Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Sun Also Rises" has ancient roots, many of the runners are now foreign tourists and the danger is increased by a tradition of drinking all night before the run.

A total of 15 people have been killed during the festival since 1924. The bulls are despatched by matadors in the afternoons following the runs.

- NZPA, REUTERS