A bull rider died of his injuries after he was thrown from a bull at a Delaware rodeo Sunday night, authorities say.
Leonel "Jhonny" Trejo, 35, of New Castle, Del., was riding a bull in the rodeo held at the Nur Temple, on South DuPont Highway in New Castle, when he was thrown from the bull, according to Delaware State Police.
While Trejo was on the ground, the bull stepped on his chest. Because it is not required at Mexican bull-riding events, Trejo was not wearing protective equipment, police say.
Trejo, an experienced bull rider, had been on the bull for four seconds before he was thrown. It happened at about 9:30 p.m.
"The bull jump in the air and when he come down the front feet step on the chest and the leg hit in the face too," the bull's owner Jose Campos said as he described the accident to NBC Philadelphia Monday.
Paramedics responded and brought Trjo to the Christiana Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police say. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
Jesus Alba, Trejo's brother-in-law, and one Trejo's sons were back at the rodeo Monday. Alba said Jhonny was an excellent bull rider, but admits he had been drinking before the accident.
"The problem is he got a couple beers, he had a couple beers," he said.
Campos says he also had a bad feeling about the ride before the gates opened.
"I feel like something going to happen, I feel it," Campos said. "I told Jhonny no do it. He said 'No I'll do it, I not scared."
Trejo leaves behind three sons and a wife. "My sister is...can't stop crying," Alba said.
