University Of Utah Student Runs With The Bulls, Gruesomely Impaled By Horn, Loses Spleen

Dillon Cheverere13 years ago

“You mess with the bull, you get the horns.”

The famed Running With the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain usually claims many victims — most just minor to severe injuries, with a few deaths mixed in. New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan was there, although it’s believed he wasn’t on the front lines, down in the trenches where the maniacs run with these blood-thirsty beasts.

20-year-old Patrick Eccles may have been, though. He was at least in a dangerous enough spot to take a horn to his side and nearly spill his guts out all over the streets.

From Fox News:

Patrick Eccles, a junior at the University of Utah, was among thousands at the event last Friday when one of the bulls charged at three men, including Eccles. The other two victims are from Spain.

The 20-year-old has been interning in Barcelona for the summer. Eccles’ father said he asked his son not to attend the run, but he went anyway, joining thousands who race with the bulls along a 930-yard route from a holding pen to the city bull ring.

Eccles was gored in the side and stomach, causing some internal bleeding. According to the Spanish hospital treating him, doctors had to remove his spleen after discovering it had been punctured by the bull’s horn.

Gotta keep that head on a swivel, Pat.

His American pompousness got the best of him, if you ask me. This is basically just glorified running with an added element of danger. Stick to real sports like baseball or American football. That’s where we shine. We don’t run, Pat. We play real sports. We’re not trying to be the best at exercising.

[via Fox News]