The bullfighter, who was in the arena when the boy was fought off, said the bull’s hind legs stomped on the boy’s chest.
KING, NC — Quin Moran was at the Rafter K Rodeo on Saturday doing what he loves.
He was the bullfighter in the arena when a 14-year-old boy ricocheted off and died.
Moran said as the boy fell to the ground, the bull’s hind legs stomped on the boy’s chest.
“My job is to be there when the cowboy falls off, to distract the bull and get him off the rider and I did that and like I said it’s just the way he came down, he’s right under down bull and as a bullfighter I can control their head and horns. I can’t control their feet,” Moran said.
The rodeo accident left several people questioning whether children should be able to compete in such risky competitions.
The North Carolina Youth Rodeo Association says it’s no different from other dangerous sports; They all come with some risk.
“I have a feeling people are, you know, why did you put your kid on a bull? And I could ask the same thing, why did you put your kid on a dirt bike or let them play soccer? It’s just something that drives me,” said Ashley Galliher of the association.
Moran said rodeo is more than just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. He explained that the event allows people to carry on the cowboy tradition and way of life.
“People call us crazy, and I don’t think we’re crazy, I think a lot of us grew up with it, and it’s a tradition, and we all just want to grow up and be cowboys, and that’s what we’re trying to do at the end of the day.” Every day everyone is chasing a dream and that’s just ours,” said Moran.
The federation also says rodeos are doing their best to get younger kids onto smaller shares during competitions.
“We’re trying our best, and I know they’re doing our best, to place the appropriate stocks at the appropriate ages. We don’t want a 14-year-old, or any kid of any age, stepping on something that a pro should be riding,” Gallier said.
For people who have a rodeo heart, the club encourages those interested to do some research and start training early.
They said that while such accidents don’t happen often, the issue isn’t if someone gets hurt, it’s when.
MORE WAYS TO RECEIVE WFMY NEWS 2
Subscribe to our daily newsletter Let’s Get 2 It!
Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.
ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU Store or search for WFMY.
Amazon Fire TV: Search WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app to your Fire TV directly from your Amazon account.
Comments are closed.