Walker "Hollywood" Smith, a champion bull rider from Tallahassee, is "fighting for his life" after being stepped on in the chest by a bull during a rodeo event in Central Florida Friday.
Smith, 17, is listed in critical condition at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, according to his father Danny Smith.
"We are here and Walker is fighting for his life," Danny told the Tallahassee Democrat Wednesday. "He goes into surgery (Thursday) morning for tracheotomy and feeding tube. He has tubes in both lungs and right now he is on the ventilator. Still not moving his arms and legs. But making improvements every day.
"Small victories every day lead to big victories."
Walker, named the Junior Bull Riding Champion of the Year in 2022 and highly renowned in the World Championship Bull Riding (WCMB) circuit, was injured when bucked off a bull during the Space Coast State Fair in Viera in Brevard County.
When Walker landed on the ground after the three-second ride, the bull stepped on him. A bucking bull typically weighs more than 1,200 pounds.
Walker was able to walk from the arena and was checked by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), according to his father. However, the Smith family, in Tallahassee at the time, was informed by telephone Walker was being airlifted to Melbourne due to low oxygen levels.
The family shared on social media that Walker was diagnosed with two collapsed lungs and bleeding on the brain, Additionally, he has experienced a series of mini-strokes.
Smith's girlfriend Talor Heidt of Bainbridge, Georgia, was at the Rodeo at the time of the accident and stayed with him at the hospital over the weekend.
"He is probably one of the most kindest, sensitive persons I've ever met. He has such a soft heart," Heidt told the Democrat Wednesday. "But he's also a fighter, and he's fighting so hard."
Friends of the Smith family have started a GoFundMe page at https://shorturl.at/b3Rk2 to help provide financial support.
Walker attended Fort Braden Middle School and is a graduate of the Florida Virtual School. He first started to ride miniature bulls at age 12. His father Danny is a former professional bull rider. In addition to Walker, Danny and wife Sabrina have two other children.