Last week, a rodeo in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo resulted in a tumble that injured an 18-year-old bull rider who was training. The rider suffered a heart attack and passed away.
On Thursday night, tragedy occurred when Thiago Castilho was participating in the Luiz Antônio Rodeo Show at the Gilberto Moreno Permanent Exhibition and Events Park.
The teenager is seen being thrown from the bull’s back just eight seconds into the ride in video from the incident that has been making the rounds online, according to the Daily Mail.
Castilho dropped to the ground unconscious after losing his helmet. While a third man chased the bull away, two men hurriedly hauled him away.
According to his father, local policeman Jean Carlos Castilho, his son began riding horses at the age of 11 and graduated to riding oxen by the time he was 16.
The senior Castilho claimed that despite repeated warnings about the risks involved in bull riding, his son remained steadfast in his decision to pursue them.
“Unfortunately, that’s what rodeo is all about. It’s a dangerous sport,” Castilho said. “I always said to him, ‘My son, stop it’. (He said), ‘No, father, that’s what I want. If I die one day, I’m going to die happy, I’m going to die riding.’”
Castilho continued by saying that his son had a good time leaving the house on Thursday to attend the rodeo.
The prospective bull rider was displaying a lot of promise, according to rodeo announcer Ronaldo Xavante, and had even attracted the interest of many national teams.
On Friday afternoon, the kid was buried in his hometown.
