Bull Rider Zachary Naegele Fights for Life After Devastating Injury at Conley Invitational
MANATEE COUNTY, FL – What was supposed to be another step toward his professional bull riding dreams turned into a life-or-death battle for Zachary Naegele on February 7th at the Conley Invitational in Palmetto, Florida. The 24-year-old Greensburg native suffered a critical neck injury when a bull’s horn slipped under his helmet, severing a small carotid artery, nicking his jugular, and causing severe blood loss.
Members of Manatee County Search and Rescue (MCSAR), already on-site for the event, sprang into action. Paramedic Max Pollock, Rescue Technician Hal Robinson, Emma Hubbard, Brandi Bay, and Nurse Practitioner Sharon Litschauer quickly stabilized him, controlling the bleeding before North River Fire and Manatee County EMS transported him to a trauma center. Naegele later recalled feeling himself slipping in and out of consciousness in the ambulance due to the extensive blood loss.
Doctors confirmed that he was lucky to be alive. After undergoing plastic surgery to repair his artery and spending three days in the ICU, Naegele was discharged to begin his long recovery, which is expected to take at least six to eight weeks.
Naegele has been riding bulls professionally for nearly a decade and was on the verge of earning his PBR (Professional Bull Riders) card. He won the Shelby County Invitational Bull Riding competition just weeks before the accident. Despite this setback, he remains determined to return to the sport and compete at the highest level, setting his sights on joining a PBR team like the Oklahoma Wildcatters.
With mounting medical expenses and no income during his recovery, Naegele has launched a GoFundMe campaign. As of February 11th, supporters have donated over $2,800 to aid his journey back to the arena.
