Three people were gored at the final bull run at the annual Pamplona festival in Spain, bringing this year’s total gorings to eight.

A bull flipped one runner over its horns and slammed him onto the cobblestone street, before clipping another two who were trapped against a wall.

The injuries happened during the San Fermin festival, when people run alongside bulls through twisting streets to a bullring, where the animals were speared to death.

A bull broke from the pack of six during the run, prompting panic among the runners, and gored two Australians and a Spaniard, health officials said.

The man who had been tossed by the chocolate-coloured bull called Rabanero was gored in the leg, while another man was gored in the right arm and a third in the armpit, according to a hospital spokesman.

In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Show all 20 1 /20 In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain A bull throws a reveler in the bullring during the Fiesta de San Fermin in Pamplona in July 2014 In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain 'Mozos' or runners fall during the 4th bull run at the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Members of the Red Cross look after two girls after bulls from 'Jarandilla' ranch entered the bull ring during de fifth bullrun at the San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain 'Mozos' or runners are crowded together as bulls from the 'Jarandilla' ranch turn La Estafeta street during de fifth bullrun at the San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Jandilla ranch fighting bulls enter the bullring during a running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain A bull jumps over revelers on the ring at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain A man wheeling a bull head chases children at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain A reveler is hit by a bull on the ring at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Photographers take a close up as 'mozos' or runners fall just before the bulls during the second 'encierro' at the San Fermin Fiestas in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Bulls chase 'mozos' or runners as some fall to the ground during the second 'encierro' at the San Fermin Fiestas in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Runners sprint alongside Torrestrella fighting bulls at the Estafeta corner during the first running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Bulls run after the 'mozos' or runners during the first bullrun of the 2014 Sanfermines in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Revellers run with Torrestrella's fighting bulls along the Calle Estafeta during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain A statue of San Fermin, the patron saint of the Fiesta of San Fermin, is paraded during a procession on the second day of the Festival of San Fermin (or Sanfermines) in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain A runner avoids a fighting calf inside Pamplona Bullring during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Participants run in front of Torrestrella's bulls during the first bull-run of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Steers and bulls from the Ranch of Torrestrella run above runners entering the bullring during the second day of the San Fermin Running Of The Bulls festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Medical assistants help a participant injured during the running of the bulls with ''Torrestrella'' fighting bulls, at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Bulls run after the 'mozos' or runners during the first bullrun of the 2014 Sanfermines in Pamplona In pictures: Bull running in Pamplona Spain Revelers cheer before the launch of the "Chupinazo" rocket, which is set off to announce the start of the Fiesta of San Fermin, during the celebration of the opening day of the Fiesta of San Fermin 2014 in front of the Town Hall of Pamplona

He said the wounds were not life-threatening.

The Red Cross reported several other injuries from people being knocked by bulls and steers, or from runners tumbling out of the way.

This year’s previous seven bull runs resulted in five people being gored – three Spaniards and two Americans.

Sixteen people have died in Pamplona’s bull runs since 1910, the last one in 2009.

The San Fermin fiesta attracts an estimated million party-goers each year. Many revellers stay up all night or rise early enough to watch from balconies or barricades.

Bullfights are protected under the Spanish constitution as part of the country’s cultural heritage.

The bull runs are controversial because the animals are said to be terrified by the race, then “tortured” in the bullring.

Animal-rights group Peta says at least 48 bulls a year at Pamplona suffer a slow, painful death as they are repeatedly stabbed.

“Many bulls are paralysed but still conscious as their ears or tails are cut off as trophies,” according to the group.

Support for bullfights that kill about 7,000 animals a year in Spain is waning, with 56 per cent fewer official fights last year than in 2007.