A participant at Spain’s San Fermin Festival is now being hunted by Spain’s police force after being captured trying to take a picture, dangerously close to wild bulls.
Police in Pamplona, Spain are searching for a bull runner who they believe snapped a ‘selfie’ as he ran just inches ahead of several charging bulls weighing more than a half a tonne each.
As much as it’s a dangerous act, it’s also illegal – as the festival deems photography of any kind as punishable by law. The festival held this past week in Pamplona over the week (July 6 – 14), which traces its roots back to the 13th century, has come under pressure in recent years to fight back against daredevils as its global profile increases.
Images of the thousands of runners dressed in red and white as they tear through the narrow streets of Pamplona pursued by stampeding bulls have now become commonplace in foreign media, and tens of thousands of Spanish and foreign tourists descend on the city to take part in the festival’s nine days of alcohol-fuelled partying and bull runs.
Watch the nerve – racking live feed of the race below:
The event has seen 15 people killed since 1911, when record keeping began. The most recent death happened five years ago. The man received a stupendous amount of hate on all social media platforms, with the hashtag #eltontolmovil, which means the ‘idiot with the mobile’, for the sheer lack of respect for the authenticity of the festival, as well as disregard for risking the lives of other participants in the run. The law says that anyone who endangers people’s lives by filming or taking photos during the run could be fined up to $2,050.
This has to be one of the most ridiculous situations ever, what is the logic? They are running with bulls!!! # animalfarm #eltontolmovil
— Tom (@TomEd_Standing) July 14, 2014
#eltontolmovil http://t.co/DkRklDQA1L Selfies are public masturbation, but this one if it comes out OK needs a prize – selfie of the century
— Tony Magrathea (@dickybeacholdie) July 13, 2014
A selfie is just a selfie. Unless you’re running w/ the bulls. Then it’s a crime. #Pamplona #eltontolmóvil http://t.co/Px6q4OjIOd
— Jon McDuffie (@jonmcduffie) July 13, 2014
This selfie obsession is getting increasingly out of hand, and the unidentified person got away with this one with his life, but this narcissistic madness needs to hold itself together. Danger might be a debatable concept for many, but Pain is surely not. Good luck escaping the clutches of the Policia, crazy dude.
(Article source : The Guardian, TOI)