A cowboy who was seen in a video lying on his son unconscious to protect him from a raging bull says his mind disappeared before he took action, adding that it was all just “part of everyday cowboy life. where I come from.
Landis Hooks, of Louisianawas hailed as a hero for coming to the rescue of his 18-year-old son, bull rider Cody Hooks, who fell from an animal during an exhibition at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton, Texas, last month.
The 40-year-old father formed a human shield over his son and even received a blow from the bull’s head as he headed towards the couple. The crowd roared in shock, but Landis kept his body tight as the bull roamed around.
“No matter what, I will do what I have to do for him,” Landis said in an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday. “He fell straight through the gate.”
But he is not interested in the praise that comes to him after his video went viral earlier this week and downplayed the dramatic incident.
“It’s just part of the daily cowboy life I come from. “Someone falls, you have to help him,” he added. “But I’m still glad I was there.”
Scroll down for video:
Louisiana Hooks of Louisiana told Good Morning America she was “glad” he was there to help protect her son from a bull attack after falling off him during a show earlier this month.
Now a viral video shows the dramatic moment when Hooks put his life – and his body – at risk to save his son, a bull rider, Cody, from a raging bull at a Texas rodeo
“It’s just part of the daily cowboy life I come from,” said Landis, seen above with his son Cody (right).
Cody says he is aware of the dangers of riding a bull. “I think about it all the time,” he said
Landis recalled that “everything just quieted down” when he saw his son fall off the bull as soon as he started riding it.
“I just wanted to make sure this bastard wouldn’t come back and get on it like he would,” he told Good Morning America.
Asked by reporter Kaylee Hartung if anyone could have stopped him, he said: “No, ma’am. Not at all. He knows how I am and no one can stop me.
In a video statement, Cody stressed that he is aware of the dangers of riding a bull.
“I think about it all the time. “A lot of people don’t like to think about the injuries that happen when riding a bull, especially after they get on,” he said.
In the already viral video shared on InstagramCody can be seen being thrown out of the bull moments after the animal jumped out of its barn and appeared in the full arena.
Unconscious from the fall, Cody lies motionless as the angry bull continues to run and spin around the ring.
In the already viral video shared on Instagram, the young Cody can be seen being thrown out of the bull moments after the animal jumped out of its stall and appeared in the crowded arena
Cody was unconscious from the fall. The footage shows several cowboys and rodeo officers trying to wind the bull while the animal continues to roam the arena – dangerously close to the still-downloaded Cody
The footage shows several cowboys and rodeo fighters trying to wind the beast to no avail as the bull continues to roam the arena.
At one point in the video, which lasts less than 20 seconds, you can see how the animal is charging for still unconscious Cody.
Seemingly aware of the gravity of the situation, Landis, who was in the crowd as a spectator to watch his son’s performance, quickly jumped into action just seven seconds after Cody was hit on the floor, jumping a fence in the ring and running to his son. .
As the bull rushes forward, Landis does the unthinkable and drapes his body over his boy, forming a human shield to protect him.
“You see, this cowboy has put his life on top,” a announcer can be heard in the heartbreaking video.
The video then shows Landis blocking a blow from the animal, using his own body, placing it between the bull and Cody’s head, which would probably have been hit – and even drunk – if the quick-thinking father hadn’t acted.
Social media users now call Landis – who took the brunt of the blow but suffered only minor injuries from the incident – a hero of the mind-boggling feat after his son posted the footage on his Instagram account.
“Not one to post, falling, but many thanks to my father @ hooks.landis and the bullfighters last night in Belton, Tx could have been a hell of a lot worse,” wrote the teenager, who came out of the meeting unscathed and had a professional bull ride from last year – from his father’s courageous act.
18-year-old Cody Landis, who is from Louisiana, walked away from the incident without any injuries
They both left the incident without serious injuries, with Landis hailed as a hero on thousands of social media for his heroic deed.
Others quickly followed suit as the video continued to attract widespread national attention.
“Every dad hopes to take action like this. Impressive, “wrote one user in response to a repost of the Twitter video, which garnered more than a million views.
“Father, ready to give his life for his son!” Wondered another.
“We’re glad you’re fine! Rest! someone else writes.
Another added, “This is the devilish dad you have!”
“I just wanted to say that both you and your father are amazing human beings,” exploded an additional user. “It made me cry like a mother watching your relationship and your father’s love for you. Strong men! I’m glad you’re both fine!
Social media users are called Landis – who took the brunt of the blow but suffered only minor injuries from the incident – the hero of the mind-boggling feat after his son posted the footage on his Instagram account earlier this month