Teen rodeo star ‘fighting for his life’ after bull kicks him

Article content

A teenage rodeo champion suffered a scary bull-riding incident that has left him fighting for his life.

Article content

Recommended Videos

Walker “Hollywood” Smith, 17, was taking part in the Space Coast State Fair in Viera, Florida on Nov. 15 when he was thrown off the bull before being kicked in his chest by the animal, WCTV reported.

His father Daniel Smith has been taking to Facebook to provide updates on his son.

He revealed on Thursday that Walker “just got out of surgery and is doing fine,” though he later added that the night had been “rough.”

An update from Daniel on Friday revealed that Walker was in “lots of pain,” didn’t sleep much and there is “still no movement.”

But he did note that his son “made some great strides last night.”

“We will take the good and the bad,” he wrote, adding he believes “there will be movement in the coming days.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to allow “his sweet parents to be able to focus on helping Walker get better and come home!”

Article content

Article content

The page’s latest update said Walker “was able to feel the stretching and touch on one leg fully.”

It noted “the other leg was a little delayed but he did eventually feel the stretch.”

Since the teen’s accident, Daniel says Walker suffered “a series of mini strokes in his brain.”

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

He is currently hospitalized and under the care of a neurologist at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla.

“He is not moving his hands and feet. They unplugged him to see if he was breathing on his and he had trouble. So they plugged him back up,” Daniel said of his son in a Nov. 18 message.

Daniel and his wife Sabrina Smith told WCTV that their son “experienced no broken bones, no spinal problems, none of that. It’s all in his brain.”

Article content

Once they learned how serious Walker’s injuries were, the parents drove five hours from Tallahassee to get to their son.

“I’m not handling anything well. I’m not,” Daniel told the outlet. “Usually, I’m the one that’s telling everybody it’s ok. I’m the one that’s… but I’m not doing well.”

Walker has an older brother and younger sister who the parents say are “struggling bad.”

Walker began riding miniature bulls when he was 12 years old.

In 2022, he was named Junior Bull Riding Champion of the Year.

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis.

Article content