A professional bull rider from Missouri has died after the bull he had been riding stomped on his chest.
25-year-old Mason Lowe was bucked from the bull at the National Western Stock Show in Denver on Tuesday, January 15.
Mason, ranked 18th in the world by Professional Bull Riders (PBR) at the time of his death, was reportedly stomped on as he tried to get to his feet. The 1,700lb bull – named Hard Times – stepped on Mason’s chest with his hind legs.
Witnesses saw Mason taking a few steps before clutching his chest and collapsing. He later passed away after being taken to hospital.
Head of public relations at Professional Bull Riders (PBR), Andrew Giangola confirmed the news of Mason’s death to USA Today, stating how the rider had suffered ‘massive heart, heart valve and aorta damage’.
Witness Gerardo Alvarez told CBS Denver:
He was thrown off the bull and while he was on the ground the back legs stomped him in the chest while he was trying to get up.
When he got up he immediately grabbed his chest and stumbled over to the exit and then fell to the ground again grabbing his chest before he could get out of the area. They took him out on a stretcher.
This year marked Mason’s seventh year as a professional competitor, having reportedly ridden rodeo from the age of just three years old on his family’s Missouri farm.
Professional Bull Riders CEO Sean Gleason has since tweeted his sympathies to Mason’s wife and family:
We are deeply saddened to report that Mason Lowe passed away this evening following injuries sustained at the PBR event in Denver.
The entire PBR and National Western sports family extends our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to Mason’s wife Abbey and his family.
As reported by The Guardian, president and CEO of the National Western Stock Show, Paul Andrews said:
Our entire rodeo family and every member of the Stock Show community is saddened by the loss of bull rider Mason Lowe,
Our hearts and thoughts are with the Lowe family, his fellow bull riders and the entire PBR organization. The National Western Stock Show and the PBR will have a tribute tonight in honor of Mason.
The National Western Stock Show, described on its website as being the ‘premier livestock, rodeo, and horse show in the nation’, is held each January for a period of 16 days.
Known to be a popular destination for tourists, more than 650,000 visitors attend the event each year.
As reported by the Denver Post, the bull which injured Mason will continue to participate in the riding circuit.
CEO Gleason said:
The bull absolutely unintentionally injured and killed Mason,
In this particular case, he had no idea that Mason had been sucked underneath him. The bull did not do this with any mal-intent.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mason Lowe at this difficult time.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.