A Chicago author who penned a guide to surviving Pamplona's famous bull run should perhaps have read his own work more closely, given that he was gored on Wednesday. "Buffalo" Bill Hillmann is described as one of the best bull runners in America and co-wrote the influential guide "How to Survive the Bulls of Pamplona." But the bulls clearly have no respect for such honors, and 32-year-old Hillmann was gored in the leg after he tripped during Wednesday's morning run, according to the website Sanfermin.com. Alexander Fiske-Harrison, one of Hillmann’s co-authors, wrote on his blog that his injured friend was doing well after surgery.

Hillman was one of several people injured Wednesday, the most serious of whom was a man gored in the thorax and taken to hospital in a semi-conscious state, according to Reuters. Dozens of people are injured each year in the eight-day “Fiesta de San Fermin,” which despite continued criticism from animal-rights groups annually attracts hordes of tourists to Pamplona. Since 1924, 15 people have died in the event.

IN-DEPTH

- Alexander Smith