DENVER — Professional bull rider Mason Lowe died from blunt force injuries to the chest, the coroner confirmed.
The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner released results from an autopsy Thursday.
Lowe, 25, had been bull riding in an event the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo at Denver's National Western Complex Tuesday when he died. He was bucked off the bull and pulled under the animal, where the bull’s hind leg struck him in the chest.
Professional Bull Rider CEO Sean Gleason after the buck off, Lowe stumbled over to the arena’s exit and collapsed.
"He just laid there motionless for a while," Ray said. "This is what brings it back to reality. Nobody wants that. That takes it from fun and exciting to heartbreaking."
Lowe, who was from the small city of Exeter, Missouri, was ranked 18th in the world, according to PBR. He had been a professional bull rider for seven years.
One in 15 bull rides results in injury, according to PBR. Lowe's death is the second in PBR's 26-year history.
