American paralyzed at Pamplona bull festival

[Le Todd]

American paralyzed at Pamplona bull festival



A New York man was paralyzed below the waist while dodging young bulls with other revelers in the bullring at Spain's San Fermin Festival in Pamplona on Friday, festival organizers said.
The 31-year-old, named by hospital authorities as Ray Ducharn, was undergoing surgery after being taken to intensive care after he was hurt while trying to escape when the animals were released in Pamplona's bullring following the famous running of the bulls through the town's streets.
It was unclear exactly how Ducharn was injured but he did not appear to have been gored, organizers said.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060707/...JknCHaXgtatAoB

[carbar]

Poor guy! But honestly I don't get the attraction of running with the bulls down narrow streets - it's one thing for the locals to do it, but coming all the way from NYC seems a little odd.
Personally I'd rather go to that other Spanish festival where they all chuck ripe tomatoes at each other! But then I'm a girlie, what do I know about bulls?

[Le Todd]

I think it's kind of abusive toward the bulls and stupid for the people.

[Aly]

Carbar, I am with you on running with/from the bulls. The article did talk about being a little drunk maybe that is the reason for choosing to do it. I would have to be passed out drunk and someone throw me on the street as the bulls ran by but then again I can be a bit of a wuss at times .

[darkeyed_daisy]

I would have to be out of my mind to get in front of a half ton bull. The adrenaline rush must be what the attraction is or to be able to say one did it. I guess this guy is paying for his stupidity. The tomato throwing festival sounds fun.......unless you get a tomato seed in your eye LOL. I guess one could brag about smelling like tomatoes but wouldnt be near as entertaining as saying I outrun the bull. I just dont understand people sometimes........I would never do it.

[dan_nc]

I think it's kind of abusive toward the bulls and stupid for the people.

So is eating beef.

[Leif]

So is eating beef.

Yes, but in this case the bulls are sitting laughing over those crazy humans and wondering why they don’t stick to throwing tomatoes at each other.

[IanTPoulter]

The annual "running of the fools" is how I have always seen it.

[Le Todd]

So is eating beef.

I support humane killing of animals for food.

[JDR]

1) beef is good

2) running with the bulls through narrow streets is a death wish

3) I sincerely hope this guy is being taken care of properly and hope for as much functional recovery as possible

4) I hate to say it....but what a cool paralysis story. "I was injured running with the bulls in Pamplona" sure beats the hell out of "I went swimming at 3am and dove without looking".

[SCI-Nurse]

Since he wasn't gored, I suspect he fell and a bull stepped on his back. Nothing like a half-ton of weight on your spine focused over a couple of square inches to break your back.

I understand that SCI care in Spain is pretty good, so hopefully he will good care until they can get him back to the USA. Wouldn't it be strange if he found us and then joined in this discussion!

(KLD)

[Surf_Sister]

I actually wanted to do this before i died, but oh well...

I bet if i didn't injure myself two years ago, it would've happened anyway through dumb ambitions like the running of the bulls.

[snowwheels]

I did it in 2003 with a few friends whom I graduated high school with that year and I must say, it was an incredible rush and infinitely more satisfying than speaking poorly the "fools" who did it on a message board.

Someone said something to me before I did it that was something to the effect of "you're and idiot to put your life in jeopardy like that" and my response was, as it continues to be, the only people who criticize those who do something like this are the ones who themselves cannot hack it(physically, mentally, emotionally, whatever). I don't see that as a flaw or weakness, but there are people like myself out there who like to live a little, rather than cling to the safety harnesses of modern society.

[artsyguy1954]

[who like to live a little, rather than cling to the safety harnesses of modern society.[/quote]

Nothing safe about modern society. People get killed in car accidents every day. Why add to the risk by running with the bulls or bungie jumping?

[snowwheels]

why not, driving a car or playing tennis is so pedestrian.