A 14-year-old boy died after suffering a cardiac arrest when he was thrown from a bull at a rodeo in North Carolina on Saturday.
Local emergency personnel were called to the rodeo event in King, just north of Winston-Salem, in response to a call about a cardiac arrest, WRAL-TV reported.
Denim Bradshaw “was riding a bull at the time of the call, but it is unclear what caused the cardiac arrest.”
Stokes County emergency management director Brandon Gentry said the teenager “was one of the participants when this happened. He was riding a bull and was thrown off,” according to Greensboro News & Record.
Denim was unconscious when EMS workers arrived, Gentry said
Denim was lying unconscious in the rodeo ring when EMS workers arrived, Gentry said.
The teenager was then rushed to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, but was sadly pronounced dead.
Denim was making his first bull ride at the event, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.
Bradshaw’s mother, Shannon Bowman, published a Facebook post on Sunday about her son’s death.
“Last night was the longest night of my life!! My beautiful handsome 14-year-old son had went to be with the lord! I awoke in a nightmare for the rest of my life! I hate myself for this call but he was loving every second of it I never seen him so happy as I had seen him last night before his departure,” Bowman wrote.
“Denim baby you did it!! You did that!! I’m so proud of your braveness and your courage! My lil cowboy I will love and miss you so much and I know God will take care of you.”
Before the arrival of Stokes County emergency personnel, two EMTs contracted by the rodeo company attempted to perform lifesaving procedures on Denim, according to WGHP-TV.
The company that ran the event, Rafter K Rodeo of Union Grove, North Carolina, also responded to the teenager’s death.
“Everyone here at Rafter K Rodeo Company, LLC would like to give our sincere condolences to the family and friends of bull rider, Denim Bradshaw,” the company said Sunday.
“Our sport is truly a family and we are so thankful for everyone that was there to help. We are thankful for our on site EMT’s, paramedics and law enforcement that work so hard to care for the cowboys.
“This is a tragic event and words cannot describe the pain felt by this loss. We ask everyone to come together and pray for his family for comfort and healing in this difficult time.”
Denim’s sister, Persephone Bowman, set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help pay for his funeral expenses.
“No one expects to lose such a young soul, and we were not prepared,” the GoFundMe’s description reads. “We graciously ask all who are able to please donate and send prayers for the family during this most difficult of times.”
“Denim adventured into the world of bull riding and fell in love,” it says. “The boots, the cowboy hats, and those big belt buckles– he loved it all. He got to ride his first bull on January 28th, and his excitement was palpable. None of us could believe that this first ride would cause his death, and we are beyond devastated.
“Our sweet 14 year old boy lost his life during what was the most exciting moment of his short life, and we are now lost without him.”
As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe account, which had a goal of $15,000, had raised more than $18,000.
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