Two British tourists gored at Pamplona's Running of the Bulls

AP

Two British tourists and one American have been gored while taking part in the running of the bulls festival in Pamplona, northern Spain.

In total, seven people were injured in the three minutes and 32 seconds it took for the bulls to run the 850 metres through the streets of Pamplona as pat of the San Fermin fiesta, according to the Telegraph.

But Liam Tarff, 29, and Nick Couchman, 20, were two of three runners to be seriously injured on day three of the festival.

According to the Metro, Mr Tarff said: "It was a feeling of sheer panic when I saw the bull stop, turn round and run towards me.

It was like being stabbed with a large knife.

"If it had gone in a few inches higher through somewhere like my heart, I probably would not have been around to tell the tale."

Mr Couchman was gored through his right thigh as he tried to run away from a 550kg bull called Fugado.

He said: "I can't remember feeling too much pain initially. The adrenaline was flowing and it was only when I saw my pants and trousers were ripped and I saw the gash in my leg that I realised I had been gored."

"Seeing it so close and out of control was a pretty terrifying moment.

"I might change my mind later but at the moment I feel like I want to do it again."

AP

According to the Telegraph, he added: "I did not even see the bull until he was about three feet away from me. I just ducked and one of his horns grazed my shoulder. If I hadn't ducked he would probably have caught me right in the face.

"His other horn went right into my leg and I didn't feel a thing.

"I managed to jump onto a wooden barricade and then over it to safety. Then I noticed that my trousers were torn and so were my underpants. Then I saw the hole in my thigh.

"It could have been so much worse. We were both extremely lucky."

The three tourists were gored by an animal that broke free from the pack as it was entering the bull ring, according to a Navarra government statement.

Around 200 to 300 people are usually injured each year at the festival, mostly from falling, while 15 people have been killed at the annual event since records began in 1911.

The runs take place daily until 14 July.

Like an adrenaline rush? Try one of these extreme holiday activities:

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