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American Paralyzed At Spanish Bull Festival
The Associated Press. ^ | July 10, 2006 | AP

Posted on 07/10/2006 12:26:06 PM PDT by Westlander

A North Carolina man's condition deteriorated Monday after being injured last week in an event connected to an annual festival in Pamplona, Spain.

Ray Ducharme's condition worsened since Sunday while he was in intensive care and he was receiving help breathing, Pamplona spokeswoman Begona Lopez told The Associated Press Monday. Ducharme was being treated for a collapsed lung and required a tracheotomy, according to a Web site maintained by his supporters.

The latest update on the Web site www.pray4ray.com said Monday that Ducharme would be unconscious for three days while fluid was drained from his lungs. "This is a critical time in Ray's recovery," the site said.

The 31-year-old bond trader for Bank of America was left partially paralyzed in a side event Friday on the first day of the San Fermin festival. The festival dates back to the 16th century, but Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel, "The Sun Also Rises," made it an international event. Thousands of runners traditional white shirts and pants with red handkerchiefs dash in front of bulls that are raced through Pamplona's streets to the bull ring.

Ducharme was hurt during a side event to the bull run. He was among hundreds of people who taunted five cows in a bull ring, chasing the cows and pulling their ears and tails.

(Excerpt) Read more at clickondetroit.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: assumptionofrisk; bull; hemmingway; paralyzed; run; seenit; spanish
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To: Westlander

A Steuben County soccer star just wanted to fulfill a dream of running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.


Ray Ducharme, an athlete and a thrill seeker.


“Ray always liked to push the envelope a little bit,” Ray’s father, Ray Ducharme Sr., said.

Ray traveled to Europe when he was 15 and 16 to play soccer, and he took a month off to travel the U.S. after college.

Ray's father says he's always supported Ray's adventures until this one.


there are conflicting reports about whether Ray's spinal cord was severed and whether he has any feelings in his arms or hands.


21 posted on 07/10/2006 12:40:35 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: Westlander

Been around cattle most of my life. Been knocked down once by a 350 lb calf, but managed to escape all the rest; the crazy cows, bulls, and deranged steers. Challenging a bull in a froth is for bull-riders with experience. To send a rookie in the way of a charging bull is a danger with serious consequences should there be one slip-up. I remember an incident when a kid from St Louis assisted with working of gentle dairy cattle and he tryed to stop one backing up by placing his extended forearm between the cow and the side of the corral. This cow was not charging; just backing up at a walk and snapped his forearm like a green maple branch.


22 posted on 07/10/2006 12:41:05 PM PDT by Neoliberalnot
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To: AnalogReigns

It is indeed cows - not bulls - that are taunted in this other event.


23 posted on 07/10/2006 12:41:18 PM PDT by wideawake ("The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." - Calvin Coolidge)
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To: Westlander
He was among hundreds of people who taunted five cows in a bull ring, chasing the cows and pulling their ears and tails.

"I didn't know it was dangerous, is my lawyer here yet?"

24 posted on 07/10/2006 12:41:28 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Westlander

What's the Spanish word for "trial lawyer"?


25 posted on 07/10/2006 12:41:57 PM PDT by PDR
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To: Rodney King
All things in moderation.

I believe that young people who are decades away from retirement are advised to invest in stocks -- a little risky, but good growth potential, and you have time to make up any losses which occur.

On the other hand, people who are just a few years from retirement should shift more money into bonds. They are less volatile. With little time to recover from losses, older people should think about reducing risk.

I suppose traders of all stripes have to be risk-taking individuals, so maybe a lot of bond traders run with the bulls and engage in base jumping. It seems a little incongruous to me, but what do I know?

26 posted on 07/10/2006 12:42:01 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy ("He hits me, he cries, he runs to the court and sues me.")
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Ducharme, a Bath, N.Y.-native, was thrown by a young cow in the event and underwent a 90-minute operation at the Hospital de Navarra to reattach two vertebrae.

"He is paralyzed in the legs, and will have partial use of his arms," said Pello Pellejero, a Pamplona government spokesman. "He is in very serious condition."

27 posted on 07/10/2006 12:42:16 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: Westlander

This is why I skip this and always go to France for the running of the bunnies. It`s much safer.


28 posted on 07/10/2006 12:42:30 PM PDT by Screamname ("We can try - to understand - the New York Times' - effect on man." - Stayin` Alive by the Bee Gees)
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To: Westlander
Sounds like the guy got what he was asking for.

Carolyn

29 posted on 07/10/2006 12:42:31 PM PDT by CDHart ("It's too late to work within the system and too early to shoot the b@#$%^&s."--Claire Wolfe)
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To: KJC1
I think the whole thing should be outlawed.

Carolyn

30 posted on 07/10/2006 12:43:37 PM PDT by CDHart ("It's too late to work within the system and too early to shoot the b@#$%^&s."--Claire Wolfe)
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To: wideawake

"It is indeed cows - not bulls - that are taunted in this other event."

Very unsporting indeed.


31 posted on 07/10/2006 12:44:17 PM PDT by AnalogReigns
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To: kcvl
For his next trick, Stupid Ray will attempt to cross the Indianapolis 500 race track on his hands and knees during the race.
32 posted on 07/10/2006 12:44:29 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture (This message has been edited to meet FCC standards)
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To: Westlander
American Paralyzed At Spanish Bull Festival

By "Bull Festival" I figured they meant one of Zapatero's speeches.

33 posted on 07/10/2006 12:45:57 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: b4its2late

To be a recipient of the coveted "Chuckie" one needs to be removed from the gene pool without having procreated. Death is just the most efficient method of doing so.
Though partially paralyzed, he may still be able to reproduce.


34 posted on 07/10/2006 12:46:50 PM PDT by magslinger (Crusade, what happens when enough Christians have enough jihad.)
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To: Westlander

URGENT MESSAGE FROM THE DUCHARME's Ray's lung has collapsed he is being intubated (meaning he will have a trache) and will be unconcious for three days while they remove fluid from his lungs. MR.DUCHARME IS CALLING FOR STRONG PRAYERS, THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME IN RAY'S RECOVERY. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SENT INFORMATION AND MADE CALLS TO HELP US GET RAY HOME. THE FAMILY IS IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE HELPING THEM GET THE ANSWERS THEY NEED. ALL OF YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED


http://www.pray4ray.com/


35 posted on 07/10/2006 12:46:57 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: PDR

36 posted on 07/10/2006 12:47:20 PM PDT by Screamname ("We can try - to understand - the New York Times' - effect on man." - Stayin` Alive by the Bee Gees)
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To: Westlander
chasing the cows and pulling their ears and tails.

OK I know his momma must be proud of this Einstein move. Of course I do hope he recovers but decides not to breed.

37 posted on 07/10/2006 12:47:50 PM PDT by daybreakcoming ("We will not tire. We will not falter. We will not fail")
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To: Westlander
Maybe he was paralyzed jumping after this...

Click here for more info on the "Running of the Bulls" or the "Jumping of the Cows" or ...oh, whatever.

38 posted on 07/10/2006 12:48:03 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: AnalogReigns

That's putting it mildly. I'd call it cowardly.


39 posted on 07/10/2006 12:48:11 PM PDT by wideawake ("The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." - Calvin Coolidge)
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To: Westlander

It was a rotten way to be wounded...


40 posted on 07/10/2006 12:49:39 PM PDT by Bernard Marx (Fools and fanatics are always certain of themselves, but the wise are full of doubts.)
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