A young bronc rider who miraculously survived after being trampled by a horse has been released from hospital.
Austin Broderson, 19, was knocked unconscious on Jan. 15 during the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, and taken to Denver Health after the animal stomped on his head and dragged him around the arena.
His mother Samantha said he suffered internal bleeding, a damaged artery, a broken hip, loss of muscle feeling and bruising to his spine.
Broderson left the hospital Thursday and headed back to his home in Canada, but he doesn't know yet whether he'll ever be able to use his left arm again.
The incident has been described as “the worst backless riding accident in recent history.”
A young bronc rider who miraculously survived after being trampled by a horse has been released from hospital
Austin Broderson, 19, was knocked unconscious on Jan. 15 during the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, and taken to Denver Health after the animal stomped on his head and dragged him around the arena
His mother Samantha said he suffered internal bleeding, a damaged artery, a broken hip, loss of muscle feeling and bruising to his spine
The frightening ordeal was broadcast live during the rodeo when Broderson slipped from the horse.
He was trampled and dragged by the horse as it continued to buck and run around the arena.
His hands were still attached to the rigging and he was unable to free himself from the animal before losing consciousness.
A video shows that Broderson's bareback rigging slipped immediately after entering the arena.
He can be seen trying to free himself from the horse, but his efforts prove unsuccessful. Eventually he fell off the animal.
Although other riders tried to pull him back and get the horse to stop, Broderson was pulled under the horse for nearly 20 seconds as it continued to buck and run.
He was knocked unconscious and bleeding profusely, witnesses said. The crowd fell completely silent.
Participants in the competition said they believed Broderson may not have survived the horrific accident.
“I was in the stands too. All I could do was tell my children to look away. Then I hung my head and prayed for him. What a blessing that he survived,” one person wrote.
The frightening ordeal was broadcast live during the rodeo when Broderson slipped from the horse
He can be seen trying to free himself from the horse, but his efforts proved unsuccessful
Broderson left the hospital Thursday and headed back to his home in Canada, but he doesn't know yet whether he'll ever be able to use his left arm again
Another person wrote: “I'm stunned he's alive.” I was in the stands watching this and thought he was gone. Very happy child!'
Broderson's parents, Steve and Samantha, were watching their son live from their home in Canada as he was thrown from the horse. The helpless couple traveled all night from Alberta to Denver.
“He has a fractured C-7 vertebra; “The broken hip and the other fracture are the nose bone on his face and minor scrapes and bruises,” Samantha previously told ProRodeo Sports News.
“He also has no feeling or movement in his left arm.” They had to undergo surgery (January 15) and successfully performed a stint operation to restore blood flow to the left side of his arm. He is not paralyzed. His cervical vertebra is broken, but his spinal cord is intact.
“When Austin is awake, he tries to joke around and tell the doctors that his pain level is a 2 out of 10, which none of us believe. “He tries to keep us busy and not worry us, so that's a good sign.”
Braden Van Nistelrooy, who organized a fundraiser for Broderson, said: “He has a long road ahead of him, but he is strong and determined and we know he will do whatever it takes to overcome this crisis.”
His mother thanked the people who have shown family love since the accident and the medical team who cared for her son
To help Broderson and his family recover, a GoFundMe page has been created. To date, 90,000 Canadian dollars have been raised.
His mother thanked the people who have shown family love since the accident and the medical team who cared for her son.
Athletic trainer Chad Smidt acknowledged the risks that rodeo poses and said Broderson requires a comprehensive effort.
“Bumps and bruises, torn muscles, strains, a little bit of everything,” Smidt said of the 19-year-old’s injuries.
“We work with them, stretch them and do therapy to help them get through their next ride.”
“In rodeo, there is always a risk that every time someone opens the shooting gate, something bad can happen,” Smidt said.
“In most cases this isn’t the case, but you have to be prepared for the times when it does happen.”