A 14-year-old boy died riding a bull for the first time at a horse race in North Carolina.
Officials said the incident occurred at the Rafter K Rodeo Winter Series at the American Legion Post 290 location in King City on Saturday.
The driver was named Denim Bradshaw by event organizers in a Facebook post.
Paramedics were called to the scene following reports of a cardiac arrest. The teenager was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
His mother, Shannon Bowman, shared her grief in a Facebook post.
“Last night was the longest night of my life!” she writes.
“My handsome 14-year-old son followed god! I woke up in a nightmare for the rest of my life!”
She added that she had “never seen him as happy as I saw him last night before he left” – and praised him for his bravery and courage.
Amanda Paquette, whose son was also at the event, told local broadcaster WFMY News 2 that she saw the bull butt into Denim’s chest after he fell.
Event organizers wrote on Facebook: “Everyone here at Rafter K Rodeo Company, LLC offers their sincere condolences to the family and friends of bull rider, Denim Bradshaw.
“Our sport is truly a family and we are so grateful to everyone that was there to help.”
They added: “This is a tragic event and words cannot describe the pain of this loss.”
Denim’s sister wrote on a GoFundMe page she set up to help with funeral costs that it was his first time riding a bull.
She wrote: “Denim has ventured into the world of bull riding and loves it. The boots, the cowboy hats and the big belt buckles – he loves it all.
“He rode his first bull on January 28th and could feel his excitement. None of us could believe that this first ride would have resulted in his death. , and we are deeply saddened.
“Our lovely 14-year-old lost his life in the most exciting moment of his short life, and now we’re lost without him.”
