Bull Rider Zachary Naegele Celebrates Comeback After Near-Fatal Injury
BATON ROUGE, La. — Zachary Naegele, a 24-year-old bull rider from Greensburg, is living his dream once again after a life-threatening accident in February 2025. During a bull riding event in Florida, Naegele was severely injured when a bull’s horn pierced his helmet, cutting into his neck. Medical professionals described his survival as nothing short of miraculous; he lost over two gallons of blood and sustained nerve damage.
The road to recovery was arduous. Naegele discharged from the ICU just 15 hours after surgery, driving home to Louisiana with a drain tube still in place. The subsequent weeks were filled with challenges, including difficulties with eating and drinking, as he suffered impaired sensation in half of his tongue and esophagus. Remarkably, he regained feeling in both areas, but his recovery also involved rerouting a severed carotid artery.
Support from the bull-riding community proved invaluable during his healing, with friends and fellow riders stepping in through a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his bills. After five weeks at home, Naegele made his return to riding on May 30, 2025, at the Crossbrand Cowboy Church in Loranger. He expressed an eagerness to confront and overcome his fears, stating, “It’s a you vs. you sport.”
Now, Naegele is preparing to compete in the Tangipahoa Pro Rodeo in Amite, a significant event for him as it’s close to his hometown. With a victory in the same rodeo last year, he is determined to prove that he has truly made a comeback. “Participating in the rodeo will mean that I’m back,” he declared, ready to reclaim his place in the arena.
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