By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-04-05 14:41:20 | Updated at 2025-04-06 04:50:14
14 hours ago
A young cowboy met a horrific end when a bull stepped on his neck, tragically killing him, during a rodeo competition in Texas.
Dylan Grant, 24, was a fearless real-life cowboy and participated in professional bull riding events around the country before his untimely death.
On Thursday night, he was competing in an Xtreme Bulls event at the Wharton County Fair in Wharton, about an hour South of Houston, when he was bucked off by a bull named Commander.
He sustained a serious injury when the bull trampled him, but medics rushed to stabilize him and he was transported by a helicopter to a hospital.
Despite efforts to save his life, the young cowboy died at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston, the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association confirmed.
'The PRCA would like to send its thoughts and prayers to bull rider Dylan Grant's family, friends and the entire rodeo/bull riding community,' the association wrote.
Grant's father, Wade, told ABC News that his son's neck was stepped on after the bull bucked him off, but he still was able to stand up and run out of the arena for help.
'He ran out of the arena and straight to the ambulance with these injuries. Dylan was double tough,' Wade tearfully recalled.
Dylan Grant, 24, tragically died after a bull stepped on his neck while he was competing in a bull riding competition at the Wharton County Fair in Wharton, Texas
Medics rushed to attend to Grant and he was airlifted to a hospital in Houston, but died due to the injuries he sustained
Grant joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association in 2024 and competed at the collegiate level at the University of Wyoming's team
The event's announcer, Robert Blue Jeanes, told Cowboy State Daily, that Grant was the last rider of the night and about 2,500 people witnessed the traumatizing moment a bull trampled the young cowboy.
Jeanes told the outlet that it looked like Grant's hand got stuck in the rope and he fell underneath the bull.
He added that it can be difficult for medics to immediately attend to bull riders after they're injured since the bull is still in the arena.
However, since Grant was able to get up and was rushed to a hospital, Jeanes said he had hoped the young cowboy could survive.
'We're just upset,' Jeanes told the publication. 'Sad and heart-broke for the kid and the family. For everybody that was there, it was just terrible.'
Grant was a member of the PRCA since 2024 and earned over $3,760 this season and over $15,000 since he started competing, according to his rodeo profile.
He placed 15th in the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi, in February, walking away with $367.
In January, he won $932 for placing 5th in the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colorado, riding a bull named Smokin Joe.
Grant's father described him as 'double tough' and said the cowboy managed to get up after a bull stomped on his neck
Grant was from Laramie, Wyoming, and graduated from the University of Wyoming, where he competed on the school's rodeo team.
He won the title at the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo in 2021 while competing at the collegiate level.
'We are deeply saddened at the news of his death and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,' the university said in a statement.
'He was a true Wyoming Cowboy.'
Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis also paid tribute to Grant, writing on X, 'My heart goes out to the friends and family of Dylan Grant. This is a heartbreaking loss for Wyoming and the entire rodeo community. My prayers are with you all during this difficult time.'
Jeanes wrote in a post on Facebook, 'He [Grant] went out with his boots on, and I hope I'm that lucky. My heart is broken today, I think everyone who was there feels the same.
'The paramedics got to him within 20 seconds after he was stepped on. They did all they could. Every time we step in the arena we know it can happen, but we never think it will. God bless Dylan Grant and his family.'
Sean Gleason, the CEO of PRCA, shared a photo of cowboys kneeling in remembrance of Grant in a tribute post
Family friend, Cyd Davidson, told the Cowboy State Daily, 'He was an absolute, awesome guy. He was so kind and so compassionate, and he was just a family-oriented kid.'
Sean Gleason, the CEO of PRCA, paid tribute to Grant on Instagram with a photo of cowboys kneeling in remembrance of the young cowboy.
'Dylan was blessed as an athlete – a state champion from Jackson Hole High School and a proud University of Wyoming alumnus – but more than that, he was known for his kindness, compassion and big heart,' he captioned the photo.
'His spirit touched everyone who knew him.'
'Incredibly tragic but he died what he loved doing and not many of us can say that. Rest in peace cowboy!' one comment on Gleason's post read.
'What an honor it is to die do something you love… rest in peace,' another agreed.
