Bull jumps into crowd at Canadian rodeo, injuring 4

Four front-row spectators were hurt, but officials say the actions of quick-thinking emergency responders helped avert a tragedy when a bull jumped into the crowd at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton. The bull had just been roped on Friday night, after bucking off rider Tanner Girletz, when it jumped the heavy-gauge steel railing separating the spectators from the action at Edmonton's Rexall Place Arena. It bolted over the two-meter barrier before two rodeo pick-up men managed to quickly pin the 600-kilogram bull, dismantle the barrier and lead it out of the competition area.

Three of the injured spectators were treated at the scene by paramedics, then released. The fourth person, conscious but hurt, was taken to hospital. Eyewitness Mark Vandyk said it was hard to tell how badly the woman was injured. "It looked like she got kicked in the mouth and I couldn't tell if she got stepped on," Vandyk said. "But it's never good when something that big hits you."

Northlands, the organizer of the event, said the agency and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association have "a detailed incident procedures plan" that was followed on Friday. "Northlands would like to commend all emergency personnel for the immediate attention, in particular, CFR pick-up men Gary Rempel and Jason Resch for their quick and decisive actions," the company said in a statement released on Saturday. Canadian Finals Rodeo Commissioner John Windwick echoed that praise as he noted this was the first such incident in the 37-year history of the event.



"This was truly an unpredictable event and it's the first time in Canadian Finals Rodeo history that this type of incident has happened with a bull," Windwick said on Saturday. "Our staff did exactly what they should have done … We would like to commend all emergency response personnel for their immediate attention." Windwick said the bull, which sustained a cut to its leg, won't be appearing again at this year's rodeo. The animal will, however, likely be used in future competitions.

You can see the incident from a different viewpoint here.