Britt Jones
A bull rider has revealed the ‘freak accident’ which saw him nearly die in front of hundreds of spectators.
Zachary Naegele was left fighting for his life after competing in the Conley Invitation Bull Riding competition in Palmetto, Florida, on February 7.
The 24-year-old had made the long 11-hour drive from his home in Amity, Louisiana, to the competition to make money from riding the big, burly beasts.
However, something went horrifically wrong, which left him lucky to be alive after having nearly bled out before arriving in hospital.
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Naegele has given rare insights into what happened to him, which was also in front of a large crowd who was there to watch the competition unfold.
But they probably didn’t bargain on seeing something so traumatizing.
It all began when Naegele chose a bull he was familiar with, which later 'busted' him off, leading him to have his neck and carotid artery punctured.
According to Naegele, the bull’s horn managed to slip under his helmet, and went in and out of his neck, leaving a gory hole.
At first, the bull rider believed that the bull had only scratched his face until he saw the blood gushing from his neck.
Naegele was then rushed to the HCA Florida Blake Hospital in in Bradenton, where he had to go through emergency surgery as well as life-saving measures after his pulse wasn’t located.
The bull rider said: "That night I drew a bull that I knew and I had seen before. I was actually very happy to draw him but it ended up being this freak accident. The bull ended up busting me off but when he [did] his horn ended up puncturing through my neck under my jaw and going into my neck about three inches.”
He continued: "At first I didn't know it impaled me in the neck. I saw the blood when I ran away and as soon as I got behind the chute I grabbed my chin because I thought the bull had busted my chin or jaw. But when I grabbed my jaw, the blood was still pouring out. If you've ever taken a syringe full of water and squirted it, that's how it looked coming out of my neck.”
Naegele then said that he could feel himself dying, stating: "It was a scary moment to see that much blood coming out. When I came off the bull it hit me so hard that his horn went directly in and out. During the 20-minute ride to the hospital, I felt myself slowly losing breath and going in and out and slowly dying.”
According to the professional, he lost two gallons of blood, suffered nerve damage, and even damaged his jugular, leading to him to have to go through plastic surgery to repair his small carotid artery.
Thankfully, it took him three days in the ICU before he was discharged, with a prognosis of recovering within six to eight weeks.
However, the ordeal has led to financial uncertainty, as Naegele’s medical bills and inability to work as a bull rider to offset his income has led to him needing to create a GoFundMe campaign to help with expenses, which you can donate to here.
But soon, he will be back and doing what he loves.
“I know that God has bigger plans for me in life; now it’s time to get healed up,” Naegele said.
The bull rider has been working in the industry for over nine years and started when he was just 15 years old.
While many would be keeping well away from bulls after nearly dying, Naegele has important plans. His goal is to make it onto one of the Professional Bull Riding (PBR) teams, specifically the Oklahoma Wildcats.
Naegele is still recovering from his injuries, as he shared: "Currently I am back at my home. I am able to walk on my own and eat soft food and drink on my own.
"I am very shocked at myself that I am making a recovery this fast. Within a few months I plan on getting back [into bull riding] and chasing my dream.
"This hasn't put me off being a rodeo athlete, bull riding is my main source of income.
"There is always going to be that nervous side to it after an injury.
"An injury to this extent is very rare now especially because we wear helmets and vests and we even clip the bulls' horns so they are flat. This was a freak accident.
"It's a miracle that I'm alive. If it wasn't for God, I wouldn't be here today."
A Conley Invitational Bull Riding spokesman said: "We're incredibly grateful that Zachary is safe and on the road to recovery.
"Bull riding is a sport of unmatched skill, courage, and unpredictability, and while injuries are an unfortunate reality, the resilience of athletes like Zachary is truly inspiring.
"At the Conley Invitational Bull Riding, contestant safety is always our top priority. We're thankful for the swift response of our experienced professionals and medical team, whose dedication helps keep our riders as safe as possible."