Bull fighting
The Carnaval Del Toro attracted up to 50,000 visitors. Carnaval Del Toro

An American tourist was savagely gored by a bull during a Spanish bull-fighting festival.

20-year-old Benjamin Miller, from Georgia underwent a three-hour operation after being injured at Ciudad Rodrigo's Carnaval del Toro bullfighting festival on Saturday (14 February)

He was treated at a hospital in western Salamanca to repair damage to his thighs, sphincter and back muscles after suffering the "biggest goring wound" the doctor performing the surgery, had ever seen.

He had been gored through the thigh of his left leg and suffered a wound measuring 40 centimetres.

Surgeon Enrique Crespo said: "It's not the worst injury I've seen, but it's the biggest goring wound I've ever had to operate on."

He reportedly came to Carnaval del Toro with a group of American students. Two other unidentified men were also hurt during the festivities.

Town councillor Pedro Munoz said: "'One man from Scotland and a Spaniard from Salamanca were also injured."

Munoz added: "Doctor Crespo is a world-renowned expert and we have a medically-equipped helicopter on standby every day of our annual fiesta."

Bull runs are a familiar sight in Spain attracting international audiences, even though they are regarded as dangerous.

Between 45,000 and 50,000 people attended the four-day fiesta, that includes afternoon bullfights and bull-running events.