Irishman dies in bull run fall

The San Fermin festival began in the 16th Century

An Irish tourist has died in an accident on the first day of the annual bull-running festival in Pamplona, northern Spain.

Aidan Holly, 23, a soldier from Tarbert in County Kerry, fell 30 metres from a wall during celebrations on Sunday.

It is believed that Mr Holly was dead for several hours before his body was discovered.

At least nine people were hurt as thousands of people tried to dodge bulls running through cobbled streets.

One man was grazed by the horn of one of six bulls set loose, while others suffered bruising, cuts and concussion as the nine-day fiesta got under way.

During the rush through the city's cobbled streets - in which thousands of revellers try to dodge bulls on the loose - the pack of bulls became separated, with one of the half-tonne animals running away by itself.

Advertisement

Bull-runners race through Pamplona

Each morning at 0800 (0600 GMT), up to six bulls and a number of steers are released from a pen into a closed-off street.

They are then run the 825m (2,700ft) to the bullring, where they will face matadors later in the day.

The whole run took a mere four minutes, organisers said, which is slow compared to previous years.

The festival, which has been held since 1591, was made internationally popular by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel, The Sun Also Rises.

At least 13 people have been killed since record-keeping began in 1924.

It has been the target of protests by animal rights protesters, who say bull-running is cruel.