Walker “Hollywood” Smith, a 17-year-old champion bull rider from Tallahassee, is “fighting for his life” after suffering a chest injury when a bull stepped on him during a rodeo event in Central Florida on Friday.
Smith is in critical condition at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, as confirmed by his father, Danny Smith.
“We are here, and Walker is fighting for his life,” Danny told the Tallahassee Democrat on Wednesday. “He goes into surgery (Thursday) morning for a tracheotomy and feeding tube. He has tubes in both lungs and is currently on a ventilator. He still isn’t moving his arms and legs but is making daily progress.
“Small victories every day lead to big victories.”
Walker, recognized as the Junior Bull Riding Champion of the Year in 2022 and a notable figure in the World Championship Bull Riding (WCMB) circuit, was injured after being bucked off a bull at the Space Coast State Fair in Viera, Brevard County.
The bull, weighing over 1,200 pounds, stepped on Walker after he was thrown to the ground during a three-second ride.
Although Walker initially managed to walk out of the arena and be checked by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), his family, located in Tallahassee at the time, was later informed by phone that he was airlifted to Melbourne due to low oxygen levels.
According to updates shared by the family on social media, Walker suffered two collapsed lungs, brain bleeding, and a series of mini-strokes.
Smith’s girlfriend, Talor Heidt, from Bainbridge, Georgia, witnessed the accident and stayed by his side at the hospital over the weekend.
“He is probably one of the kindest and most sensitive people I’ve ever met. He has such a soft heart,” Heidt said on Wednesday. “But he’s also a fighter, and he’s fighting so hard.”
Walker, who attended Fort Braden Middle School and graduated from Florida Virtual School, began riding miniature bulls at age 12. His father, Danny, is a former professional bull rider. Danny and his wife Sabrina have two other children in addition to Walker.
