A professional rodeo rider almost bled to death when he was impaled in the neck by a bull horn in front of hundreds of horrified spectators.
Zachary Naegele had driven 11 hours from his home in Amity in Louisiana, US, to attend the Conley Invitation Bull Riding competition in Palmetto, Florida, US, on February 7.
But when the 24-year-old took to the arena on his chosen bull, he claims the animal ‘busted’ him off – with the bull’s horn puncturing a hole through his neck and carotid artery.
Horrifying photos show the bull’s horn wedged three-inches deep in Zachary’s neck as he tumbles off the beast’s back.
The injury was all the more unusual as horn tipping is standard practice – meaning the bulls’ horns are blunted to lessen, but not eliminate, the chances of riders getting gored.
At first, Zachary believed the bull had only hit his face so didn’t realise the true extent of his injuries until his neck started to pump out blood.
Zachary was rushed to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in in Bradenton, Florida, where he underwent emergency surgery.
There, Zachary claims concerned docs said he ‘shouldn’t have survived his injury’ due to the amount of blood he lost.
Rodeo rider Zachary Naegele claims he almost bled to death after he was impaled in the neck by a bull horn earlier this month
Naegele was competing in the Conley Invitation Bull Riding competition in Palmetto, Florida, when the accident happened
Pictured: Zachary Naegele, 24, a professional rodeo rider who almost bled to death after being impaled by a bull
Miraculously Zachary, who felt himself ‘slowly dying’ has made a remarkable recovery and is now able to walk, talk and eat on his own after being discharged from hospital.
The bull rider claims it’s a miracle he survived but says the freak accident has not put him off from wanting to return to the rodeo arena soon.
Zachary, from Amite in Louisiana, US, 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.
‘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.
Despite saying that he felt himself ‘slowly dying’, Naegele has made a remarkable recovery and is now able to walk, talk and eat on his own
Zachary was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery
Horrifying photos show the moment the bull’s horn wedged three-inches deep in the rodeo rider’s neck
The young man claims doctors said he ‘shouldn’t have survived his injury’ due to the amount of blood he lost
Despite his life-threatening injury, he wants to return to the rodeo arena to chase his dream of becoming an Oklahoma Wildcats member
‘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.
‘When I was in the ambulance, I lost so much blood. The first thing I lost was my eyesight and my vision went black.
‘All I could do was listen at the moment in time. I could hear the ENT telling me to keep breathing and to not give up.
‘Right before I got to the hospital, I felt myself taking my last breath and I blacked out.
‘I got put on the table [in hospital] and I could hear everybody yelling.
‘I remember them saying they couldn’t feel a pulse in my neck or arm anymore but could feel a pulse in my foot so they kept trying.
Following his accident, a fundraising page was set up to help Zachary with his medical bills and recovery journey
He also underwent plastic surgery to have his carotid artery rebuilt and nerves in his neck reattached
‘I lost so much blood, I thought I wasn’t going to make it.’
After being stabilised in the hospital, Zachary underwent plastic surgery to have his carotid artery rebuilt and nerves in his neck reattached.
Zachary, who has been riding bulls for nearly a decade, said: ‘It was more surprising [when I woke up] as I didn’t think I was going to make it.
‘They ended up going in and cleaning the wound out. They then closed up the artery because he [the bull] completely severed it and it was unrepairable.
‘They also reattached a few nerves and then the plastic surgeon stitched me up on the inside and then glued the outside so I’ll be left with minimal scarring.
‘The doctor told me that I should not be alive and that I’m blessed to be.’
Following his accident, a fundraising page was set up to help Zachary with his medical bills and recovery journey as he says bull riding is his main source of income.
Despite his life-threatening injury, he wants to return to the rodeo arena to chase his dream of becoming an Oklahoma Wildcats member – a Professional Bull Riders [PBR] team.
Zachary said: ‘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: ‘Thank you for reaching out. First and foremost, 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.’
