A bull rider has shared the details of a ‘freak accident’ that almost ended his life in front of a large audience.
On February 7, Zachary Naegele, 24, found himself fighting for survival following his participation in the Conley Invitational Bull Riding contest in Palmetto, Florida. This harrowing incident occurred after he traveled an extensive 11-hour journey from his home in Amity, Louisiana, hoping to earn money by riding these formidable animals.
Unfortunately, the event took a dangerous turn, leaving him in a life-threatening situation as he nearly bled out before reaching the hospital.
Naegele recounted the rare and terrifying experience that unfolded in front of the spectators gathered to witness the competition. They certainly hadn’t expected to witness such a distressing scene.
The incident began when Naegele chose a bull he was acquainted with; however, the bull ‘busted’ him off, resulting in a puncture to his neck and carotid artery.
According to Naegele, the bull’s horn managed to get under his helmet, piercing in and out of his neck, leaving a severe wound.
Initially, he thought the bull had merely scratched his face until he noticed the profuse bleeding from his neck.
Naegele was swiftly transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton, where he underwent emergency surgery and critical life-saving procedures after his pulse was undetectable.
The bull rider explained: “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 added: “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 recounted the sensation of fading away, saying: “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.”
As a result of the accident, he lost two gallons of blood, sustained nerve damage, and damaged his jugular vein, requiring plastic surgery to repair his small carotid artery.
Thankfully, after spending three days in the ICU, he was discharged with a recovery timeline of six to eight weeks.
The ordeal has led to financial challenges, as Naegele faces medical bills and an inability to work as a bull rider due to his injuries. He has set up a GoFundMe campaign to support his expenses, which you can contribute to here.
Despite the setback, he is eager to return to his passion.
“I know that God has bigger plans for me in life; now it’s time to get healed up,” Naegele stated.
With over nine years of experience in the industry, Naegele started bull riding at the age of 15.
Even after such a near-fatal incident, he remains committed to his goal of joining one of the Professional Bull Riding (PBR) teams, particularly the Oklahoma Wildcats.
Updating on his recovery, Naegele 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 spokesman for the Conley Invitational Bull Riding commented: “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.”