Dramatic Viral Video Captures Close Encounter as Bucking Bull Confronts Fallen Cowboy

The rodeo comprises a bunch of disciplines. But bull riding is not only a dangerous rodeo discipline, it is also one of the most dangerous sports on the planet. Lasting at least eight seconds atop a 1000-2000 pound raging bull to even get a score is extremely terrifying. What is even more shocking is that wearing protective gear while bucking is only a pretty recent thing in the sport. After Lane Frost’s death due to a bull riding accident in 1989, his traveling partner Cody Lambert designed a protective vest for professional bull riders.

It was only in 1996 that protective vests were made compulsory by the PBR. However, all these risk factors do not stand a chance for cowboys and girls who literally put their lives on the line each time they sit on top of a bull. A recent social media video released through the official Professional Bull Riding Leagues account highlights the same.

Rodeo is one of the most dangerous sports in the world

Back in 2011, Dale Butterwick, who is a pioneering sports epidemiologist hailing from the University of Calgary, researched and came out with a report on bull riding. His study may be a decade old, but even then Butterwick highlighted that approximately 20 out of every 100,000 rodeo contestants find themselves grappling with the ramifications of a catastrophic injury. Compared to football, these figures are a stark contrast, as in football the rate is remarkably low, with less than one in every 100,000 players being subject to such significant harm. He also claimed that, among all rodeo events, bull riding is the most dangerous event. Butterwick revealed that most bull riding injuries occur when the bull rider is stomped on their chest or back by a bull that weighs more than 1000 pounds. A similar scene was also recently shared on Instagram by PBR’s official account that showed a rider violently thrown off his bull.

There was another insightful study that was undertaken by USA Today. The study that spanned two decades, from 1994 to 2014, revealed that within these 20 years, a total of 49 catastrophic injuries were recorded. 21 of them lead to deaths and a staggering 16 of those 21 deaths were attributed to riders being kicked in the chest by bulls. In fact, most cowboys can attest to the fact that a number of their peers have broken jaws, knocked-out teeth, and severe fractures in their bodies. Concussions, shoulder dislocations, knee ligament injuries, and contusions are the other most common injuries faced by bull riders. However, rodeo is not the only dangerous sport in the world.

Other dangerous sports in the world

Base jumping is another adrenalin-filled sport that is considered quite dangerous. It usually consists of jumping from a great height and using a parachute in order to break the fall. Relying only on the parachute makes it an extremely dangerous sport. Big wave surfing is another sport that often puts surfers at risk. Mark Foo, a Hawaiian big wave surfer who has attempted to surf waves as high as 50ft, was killed while surfing in only 15 ft waves. Kelly Slater’s friend Donnie Solomon also drowned while surfing huge waves at Waimea Bay in Hawaii.

Read more: “Condolences to His Family”: 19-Year-Old Future Cowboy’s Tragic Death During Rodeo Accident Leaves Community Shattered

Overall, all sports carry the risk of injuries, but some sports, like bull riding, often carry potential life-threatening injuries. Despite the unpredictable nature of bull riding, cowboys and cowgirls are mesmerized by the sport and it is more of a culture than a sport, a way of life, don’t you agree?

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