A 14-year-old cowboy died after being flung from a bull and trampled on during a rodeo competition.
Denim Bradshaw, from North Carolina, US, was competing at Rafter K. Rodeo's winter series on Saturday evening when he fell off a bull.
The teen, who was trampled on the chest, suffered a cardiac arrest as the crowd looked on in horror.
Emergency services were called to try and save the boy as they performed life-saving treatment.
Denim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
His heartbroken mum Shannon Bowman paid tribute to her son with an emotional post on Facebook.
She wrote: "My beautiful handsome 14-year-old son had went to be with the Lord.
"I awoke in a nightmare for the rest of my life... he was loving every second of it I never seen him so happy as I had seen him last night before his departure."
Shannon said her son Denim was a huge riding fan as she took comfort he died doing what he loved.
She added: "Denim baby you did it. You did that!! Iâm so proud of your braveness and your courage! My lil cowboy I will love and miss you so much and I know God will take care of you."
The Rafter K Rodeo Company said members of the rodeo club bowed their heads and took their stetsons off in tribute to Denim following the tragic news.
Amanda Paquette, whose son was participating in the competition, revealed she spent weeks buying safety equipment needed for the event.
The mum said: "Like I'm a single mom, I had spent these last two weeks saving my money to buy my son everything he needed for the rodeo.
"'I wanted to make sure that he had everything he needed to be safe, but she has no idea that the next day her son wasn't going to be there with her."
The Rafter K Rodeo company praised the parents and emergency services who tried to save Denim.
In a statement the company said: "Our sport is truly a family and we are so thankful for everyone that was there to help.
"We are thankful for our on site EMTâs, paramedics and law enforcement that work so hard to care for the cowboys.
"This is a tragic event and words cannot describe the pain felt by this loss. We ask everyone to come together and pray for his family for comfort and healing in this difficult time."
