During the last decade, at least seven individuals have died while executing stunts for Red Bull. Five of the deaths occurred in China and two in Germany.
The first known death of an athlete working with Red Bull was that of Wang Lin in March 2002. A motorcycle stunt performer, he was practicing a jump over a pool table when his helmet strap broke and he fell into the pool room below. He was 31 years old.
The second known death was that of Wei Shen in May 2003 during filming of a television show called "Face Off". While performing a flip off the top of a building, his helmet came off during the move and he hit his head on the ground below. He was 28 years old.
The third known death was that of Zhang Jiajie in August 2005 during filming of a television show called "Fear Factor". In a swing dive from a platform above a crowded stadium, he collided with another diver who was also trying to land on the platform. He was 35 years old.
The fourth known death was that of Peter Tingley in October 2005 during testing of a parachute system.
Since 1989, at least 21 professional bull riders have perished, with the total number possibly far higher because amateur bull riders are not included in these figures. The most recent death was that of 34-year-old Jeff Gwynne of Austin, Texas, on May 20, 2019.
The most famous bull rider who has died was "Dandy" Dave Riddle, who was known for his distinctive dress and mustache. He is considered by many to be the greatest bull rider of all time. Riddle died in a car accident on April 4, 1974, at the age of 36.
Other notable dead bull riders include Michael Black (1953-1974), Don Lenchek (1958-1960), Gary Greene (1967-1989), John Thomas (1969-1990), Terry Miller (1973-1991), Jerry Birdwell (1978-1980), Brian Priestley (1981-1984), Mike Henzel (1985-1986), Ron Thomason (1987-1988), and Kevin Young (2019-present).
Bull riding is an extremely dangerous sport. Of the approximately 100 bull riders who ride annually in Mexico, about 70 die or suffer serious injuries. In North America, the average rate of death for bull riders is one person every other day.
Since record-keeping began in 1910, 16 individuals have died during the Running of the Bulls festivities, according to the Running of the Bulls organizers. Six bulls are unleashed into the streets each day of the San Fermin celebration before being herded into the stadium for bullfights, where the animals are finally killed.
The most recent death occurred last year in Spain when a 39-year-old man was gored to death by a bull while participating in a different type of festival held during that time period. Before that, another man died in 2011 during a previous season at this same festival. And in 2010, a third man was killed at a different Spanish festival during the same time frame.
So yes, people do die during the Running of the Bulls festivities.
Here is the full list of people who have died during the Running of the Bulls:
1910: Francisco Romero Matute, age 30, horn player, Barcelona
1911: Manuel Garcia Delgado, age 35, matador, Madrid
1912: Antonio Martinez Carrasco, age 25, picador, Pamplona
1913: Gregorio Maristany, age 26, picador, Madrid
1914: Felipe Escario, age 20, picador, Madrid
This year's Pamplona fiesta saw eight individuals gored and 35 more wounded. Since records began in 1911, at least 16 individuals have been murdered in bull runs. Of these, only two were runners.
In July 2004, a 32-year-old Spanish man was fatally gored by a bull while participating in a run sponsored by a local soccer team. His name has not been released publicly. In May 2003, a 39-year-old Spanish man died after being gored by a bull during a San Fermin festival run. The man had been drinking alcohol and taking drugs prior to the run, which may have impaired his ability to escape death or injury if he were gored by a bull.
In February 2000, a 23-year-old Spaniard was killed when he was gored by a bull during a San Fermín festival run. He had been drinking alcohol and using cocaine before the run, which may have impaired his ability to escape death or injury if he were gored by a bull.
In October 1995, a 25-year-old Spanish man was trampled to death by a bull during a San Fermín festival run.
What is the event's level of danger? Every year, dozens of people are hurt, most of them are crushed by bulls. Last year, 12 individuals were gored during the bull runs, including four Americans. Since the festival's inception in 1924, 15 individuals have died as a result of being gored. The dead include eight men and seven bulls.
The main reason for the severity of this tradition is that no one knows how to manage bulls safely. A bull may charge any moment, especially if it senses fear or excitement. Its horns are also very dangerous because they can easily kill someone who gets in its way. Humans tend to treat these animals in a cruel manner, which only makes them more aggressive. There have been attempts to curb this practice over the years but none has been successful yet.
Another factor contributing to the risk involved with watching the run is the location. They are usually held in towns across Spain, France, and Italy. These cities are famous for their nightlife so people go out to see the run then get drunk. This combination is extremely risky because many people will be distracted by the alcohol and won't watch where they're going. Then there's the fact that several people are often stuck together with just a thin barrier between them and death.
Finally, the cost of attending these events is high. People pay to watch others race down streets full of traffic while wearing heavy metal masks. There are also prizes for the runners.
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