Aug 9, 2007 11:58 pm US/Eastern
Brothers Gored By Bulls Recall Terrifying Ordeal
by Jamie Smith
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Two local brothers, who were seriously gored during the running of the bulls in Spain last month, shared their death defying experience with CBS 3.
They're all smiles less than a month after cheating death.
"We can smile now because we are OK," Michael Lenahan said.
But they found themselves far from OK during the running of the bulls last month in Spain when one animal when on a violent rampage.
"He just went directly towards us and attacked us and then turned around and attacked more people and then came back towards us again," Michael explained.
Both Lenahan brothers found trouble as a 1,300 pound bull gored both of them simultaneously.
Sean suffered an eight inch gash in the left buttock and Michael's leg was so damaged; doctors thought they might have to amputate.
Photos of 23-year-old Michael getting injured made the front page of several newspapers in Spain.
"So many people came by and they said this is the first time that has ever happened in the history of the whole event, so that's why I think it got such attention," Michael said.
The injuries were so serious that both landed in a Spanish hospital for a week. The pair just recently returned to the Delaware Valley.
Michael is a recent cancer survivor and planned the trip with his brother as a way to celebrate life.
"I thought what better place to start, what wilder place to start than in Pamplona with the bulls," Michael said.
"We realized it was dangerous, but we were still going to do it," Sean added.
It has been a dozen years since anyone died at the running of the bulls. The last fatality was an American tourist.
"I didn't think it would happen at all because statically, there's so many people, I just figured no way," Michael said.
Even after suffering the serious injuries, the brothers said they will return and run with the bulls again.
"We'll definitely be back, even if it is just to enjoy the city because they took such good care of us that we got to go back," Michael said.
The bull run is a part of the 400-year-old the San Fermin festival in the northeastern city of Pamplona. It gained worldwide fame in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises."
Since records began in 1924, 13 people have been killed in the runs.
The Lenahan brothers will participate in the 2007 LIVESTRONG Challenge, for more information, please
Click Here .
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