Tonight during the Newport Rodeo, the second to last bullrider of the evening, Stoney Covington, was seriously injured. Shortly after launching out of the chutes and just a couple seconds into his ride, Covington took at least two severe blows to the head immediately in front of the stands. After being thrown from the bull, the bull's hooves came down on top of him.
All night long, the roughstock provided by stock contractor Layton McMillan Rodeo Company from Elk, Washington, were particularly rank. One bull, after launching his rider, turned his attention back toward the chutes and wiped out the rodeo arena photographer. Several other cowboys including Bullrider Vic Desautel, received non life threatening injuries. At least one other bullrider took a direct hit to the head, and although stunned, as he was ssisted out of the arena, he seemed ok. Had he not been wearing a helmet, it's questionable whether he too would be alive tonight. After two full heats of bullriding, only a couple bullriders managed to cover their bulls.
We ask that our readers also please keep all of the other injured roughstock riders in your prayers as well.
Still, the most pressing and serious concern is Stoney Covington.
According to Cowboy Teddy Boggs, who was working the chutes, Covington was not breathing for some time until paramedics from Newport Ambulance were able to revive him. Covington's injuries are substantial and he faces life threatening challenges tonight, especially severe head trauma.
After Covington was taken by ambulance out of the arena, he was admitted to Newport General Hospital. The hospital dispatched a Lifeflight Helicopter from Spokane as the Newport hospital is not equipped to handle such life threatening injuries.
It's going to take a miracle for Covington to pull through this.
But we still believe in miracles.
Tonight we stand by Stoney in silent, humble prayer asking for just that.
I'd like to describe what the moment was like.
Newport is a small but tightly knit, and generous community. Our rodeo is the largest annual community event and is one of the most popular WPRA (Western Pro Rodeo Association) sanctioned rodeos in the circuit. From the minute Covington went down, everyone was on their feet. Even before Covington was attended by paramedics, the nearly 4000 spectators in the stands had removed their hats and bowed their heads. The bull wasn't even out of the arena, yet every cowboy in the chutes had already scrambled to Covington's aid, to protect him from further injury. Some of the young men kneeling beside him were injured and bandaged roughstock riders, competitors who'd also been hurt earlier in the evening.
After the paramedics raced into the arena, most of these roughstock riders remained protectively encircled around their fellow cowboy, many of them holding him still to keep him perfectly stationary. Everyone in the arena fell to their knees in prayer, from Rodeo Clowns to pick up men, to fellow competitors. We could have heard a pin drop in that packed rodeo areana, and the only sounds came from the amusement rides on the midway.
For fifteen long minutes, no one moved. In the grandstands, cowboy hats remained at ease. The crowd stood in solidarity. Stoney's friends on the WPRA circuit stayed gathered around their fallen friend as if afraid to let go. Until he was loaded into the ambulance, they did not leave his side. As the ambulance slowly and gently eased out of the arena, the crowd began to slowly applaud. The rodeo announcer returned to the announcers booth and urged everyone to join together and continue to support Covington in prayer, but the spectators were already doing so.
We are thankful that after those several breathless minutes passed, the cowboy began breathing again on his own, he regained conscienceness and once revived, was stablized enough to be transported out of the arena.
We wish him Godspeed on the rest of his journey.
Ironically, Stoney's traveling partner was the last ride of the evening, and had the misfortune to ride knowing that his friend was on death's door. He did not cover his bull but he gave it his best shot.
Tonight, and until Stoney is out of the woods, we are asking everyone who reads this blog to keep this fine young cowboy in your prayers. His medical expenses are going to be enormous and the minute a fund is set up for the man, the details will be posted here. We'll also keep everyone apprised of his medical condition and we hope with all our hearts this special guy pulls through.
Thank you for joining us.
No comments:
Post a Comment