LONGMONT, Colo. -- A 12-year-old boy died at Longmont United Hospital after being stomped on during a bull ride at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Sunday morning.

Richard Wayde Hamar of Yuma, Colo., was competing in the Little Britches Rodeo, a two-day children's rodeo event at the fairgrounds, said Boulder sheriff spokesman Sgt. Mike Dimond. The boy was a junior bull rider competitor.

"He was riding, he was bucked off and stepped on by the bull shortly after being bucked off," said Dimond. "It was just a fluke accident."

He said the boy was wearing a helmet and a protective vest at the time but the 1,200-pound bull stepped on his chest. The impact ruptured his heart, Boulder County Coroner Thomas Faure said Monday.

Wayde was taken to Longmont United Hospital, where he later died.

Wayde's parents were watching their son compete when he was killed. They told 7NEWS he had been riding bulls for six years.

"Wayde was a 12-year-old very special young man whom did exactly what he loved and that was rodeoing," the family said in a statement. "Wayde and little brother Zach made a great team ... Wayde had a heart of gold and knew no enemies. He was loved by many family and friends and their hearts are broke and we will deeply miss him."

Dimond said there are injuries at the fairgrounds from time to time, but he couldn't remember a child being stepped on by a bull before.

"I'm concerned for this family and their loss, but it's inherent to the sport and people go into that knowing it could happen on any given ride," he said.

Wayde was the son of Mitch and Angie Hamar, of Yuma. He attended Lone Star School and would have been in the seventh grade this fall.

Orin Buchanan is a bullfighter whose job is to distract the bull from the rider and grab it after the rider is thrown. He was the first by Wayde's side when he fell.

"It was hard. It was really hard. Kind of tears you down a bit, knowing this kid had years of rodeoing, years of life, a family ahead of him, and in one fatal accident, it was taken from him," Buchanan said.

In his 20 years of rodeoing, Buchanan said this is the third death he's seen and the first child ever killed in a Little Britches Rodeo event.

The Longmont Elks Lodge, which sponsored the rodeo, released a statement that said: "Our hearts go out to the family, and Little Britches Rodeo, and rodeo in general. It's a tragedy. A very rare occurrence, but still a tragedy."

The National Little Britches Rodeo Association, based in Colorado Springs, issued the following statement Monday on Wayde's death:

"The National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA) is deeply saddened to report the tragic and untimely death of a member.
"The Little Britches Family wishes to send our thoughts and prayers to Wayde's family during this difficult time," stated Kimber Solberg, NLBRA Executive Director. "Our thanks goes to everyone who worked to assist Wayde after his accident and those who are supporting his family at this difficult time. The Little Britches Rodeo family, as well as the rest of the rodeo world, grieves with the loss of Wayde."
"The NLBRA takes the safety of the contestants at our events very seriously and the bull riding event requires safety vests, mouth guards and the option for a bull riding helmet, which Wayde was wearing. Additionally, emergency personnel are on site at all events."

It's not clear how many children are injured in rodeos because there is no one overriding regulatory agency or commission overseeing rodeos, unlike other youth sports such as boxing or baseball. But the Professional Bull Riding Association said for adults, there's one injury for every 15 bulls out of the gate.

"There is a big element of danger. Rodeo is one of the top five most dangerous sports in the world," Buchanan said.

But for some ranching families, it's a way of life.

Cassi Roberts saw the accident and still plans on letting her 10-year-old daughter start bull riding soon.

"This is just our way of life. I've watched a lot of kids get hurt," Roberts said. "My nephew broke his back when he was 15. I carried a buddy's friend to the hospital when he broke his leg ... but anything's dangerous."

Some of those at the county fairgrounds where the rodeo was held were questioned about how young is too young to compete in a rodeo. Rodeo riders can compete when they are 8 years old.

"I have a 12-year-old son and 12-year-old cousins and would never, never let them out there," one woman said.

"That's the choice of life that they live and we think that that's exciting," said another woman.

"Every sport has some danger attached to it," another woman said.

A memorial fund has been set up for Wayde Hamar at the Yuma County Federal Credit Union, PO Box 271, Yuma CO, 80759, Wayde Hamar Memorial Fund, 970-848-3823.