Getty/Chris Elise
- A professional bull rider died Sunday in California after a bull stomped on his chest.
- Amadeu Campos Silva was just 22 years old.
- "It's just a really freak, tragic accident," said Professional Bull Riders' Cody Lambert.
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A professional bull rider died Sunday in Fresno, California, after a bull stomped on his chest.
Amadeu Campos Silva, 22, was competing at the Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) Velocity Tour event at the Save Mart Center when he lost his seat on "Classic Man," 5.31 seconds into his second round ride.
Silva suffered chest injuries and was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, USA Today reports.
"Our heart breaks for Amadeu's family and friends," said a statement from PBR. "At 22, he was a bull rider with a lot of promise.
"Amadeu was a rising star in our sport; a cowboy with so much potential on and off the dirt. The entire PBR and western sports family extend our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences to Amadeu's family and friends.
"Please say a prayer tonight for them, and may Amadeu's soul eternally rest in peace."
Cody Lambert, livestock director for the PBR, said he saw the crash.
"When he came off, his spur got tangled up and it turned him upside down right under the bull's back leg,'' he told USA Today.
"It's just a really freak, tragic accident.''
PBR spokesman Andrew Giangola added that the incident "was not an act of aggression" from the bull.
"The bull was bucking in his normal pattern," he said. "Amadeu's spur got hung up in the flank rope, and he was pulled under the bull in a freak accident.''
A native of Brazil, Silva joined the PBR's US tour after riding for PBR Brazil in 2017 and 2018.
He made his debut on the Velocity Tour, which features up-and-coming PBR bull riders, in 2019, before competing in the PBR World Finals in 2020.