A silent run with Pamplona's thundering bulls

A silent run with Pamplona's thundering bulls

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Every summer Sergio Colas, joins hundreds of other runners for Pamplona's annual bull-run but unlike them he cannot hear the roaring crowds or the bulls thundering through the winding streets of the Spanish town's mediaeval centre.

Deaf from birth, Colas has to rely on the movement of the mass of people around him to complete the almost kilometre-long dash without being gored or trampled by the specially-bred bulls, which can weigh up to 650 kilograms.

Although some tell him he shouldn't run, the 35-year-old native of Pamplona says his deafness may even be an advantage as the din of the festival can distract runners from the danger bearing down upon them.

. Pamplona, Spain. Reuters/Susana Vera

Over the past century 15 people have died in the San Fermin run and many are gored by the bulls' horns each year. Several Spaniards have already been killed in bull-runs elsewhere in the country this summer.

"The most important thing in the bull-run is what you see, and I see more than others do," said Colas, who this year celebrates his 20th year of taking part in the event.

The San Fermin bull-run began as a religious festival in the Middle Ages and gained global fame following writer Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises".

. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

With close to a million Spaniards and foreign revellers now cramming into the northern Spanish town of Pamplona every year for the nine-day event, Colas says he can no longer distinguish the vibrations caused by the bulls and those by the crowd.

"I used to be able to feel the vibration of the stampede and that of the bells of the steers," he said, referring to the tame, guiding bullocks which run alongside the bulls.

But now the sound of the hooves pounding on stone-laid streets is no longer a sure guide.

. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

When he ran for the first time at the age of 15, his mother, Begona, only found out when she happened to see a photo of him in a local newspaper.

Initially wary, she gradually came around to the idea as running with the bulls was a family tradition. His father, Txema, has been taking part for 40 years.

. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Each year Colas begins in the same spot where, unable to hear the blast of the run's starter rocket, he climbs a street shop's security doors to see the bulls as they come charging towards him.

"I like it when the run goes very quickly because more gaps open up in the crowd and I can handle the speed of the bulls and have a cleaner sprint," he said.

. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Colas, who works at a local factory run by carmaker Volkswagen performs one small ritual before the race. He takes a medallion which hangs around his neck and kisses the image of Saint Fermin, namesake of the festival.

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Slideshow

Sergio Colas uses sign language while having lunch with other deaf friends.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas uses sign language while having lunch with other deaf friends.

Sergio Colas, jokes with his father Txema (R) as his wife Alma and his brother Daniel (2nd L) look on.
. Marriquiain, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas, jokes with his father Txema (R) as his wife Alma and his brother Daniel (2nd L) look on.

Sergio Colas uses a stain-remover on the trousers he wore in the first bull run.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas uses a stain-remover on the trousers he wore in the first bull run.

Sergio Colas shows the scar left by a bull's horn during a bull run in central Spain in 2009.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas shows the scar left by a bull's horn during a bull run in central Spain in 2009.

Sergio Colas puts on the scarf his father wore when he ran with the bulls.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas puts on the scarf his father wore when he ran with the bulls.

Sergio Colas bids farewell to his wife Alma as he leaves to take part in the first bull run.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas bids farewell to his wife Alma as he leaves to take part in the first bull run.

Sergio Colas and other runners sit in a bookshop as they prepare for the first running of the bulls.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas and other runners sit in a bookshop as they prepare for the first running of the bulls.

Sergio Colas makes his way to the first bull run.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas makes his way to the first bull run.

Sergio Colas walks past revellers.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas walks past revellers.

A woman looks at Sergio Colas as he meets with other runners.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

A woman looks at Sergio Colas as he meets with other runners.

Sergio Colas runs ahead of the bulls.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas runs ahead of the bulls.

Sergio Colas plays with his daughter Alaia.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas plays with his daughter Alaia.

Sergio Colas takes a selfie with his wife Alma Sierra and their daughter Alaia.
. Pamplona, SPAIN. Reuters/Susana Vera

Sergio Colas takes a selfie with his wife Alma Sierra and their daughter Alaia.