Thousands of Rodeo 4 Life spectators feared the worst on Saturday night when Jono Couling was thrown off his bull.
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The crowd at WIN Entertainment Centre could only watch on helplessly as BFG the bull then set about trying to trample Couling as he lay motionlessly on the ground.
Fortunately for the 26-year-old bull rider from Singleton in NSW, BFG's aim was off.
"He still got me a few times though," Couling told the Mercury.
"He's broken my shoulder blade and I have lots of scrapes and cuts on my face and my legs.
"But I know it could have been much worse."
Couling, who spent the night in Wollongong Hospital before being released early Sunday afternoon, said he couldn't remember much about the incident.
"I remember being really loose on my bull and fell off it and ended up underneath it," he said.
"I remember trying to get out of the road but that wasn't happening."
While the incident "sickened" many in the crowd, self-confessed cowboy Couling stressed the 'scary situation' was part and parcel of being a bull rider.
I don't feel too bad. I'm sore but that's about it, there's nothing major wrong with me. I just move on and I will see you all at the next one.
"It's a dangerous sport and it happens from time to time," he said.
"I have had worse injuries but the incident itself was among the worst. But as I said it is what it is and you move on."
Couling, who started riding bulls almost 20 years ago aged just seven, wanted fans to know he was okay and ready to get back on the bull so to speak sooner rather than later.
"I don't feel too bad. I'm sore but that's about it, there's nothing major wrong with me. I just move on and I will see you all at the next one," he said.
His next rodeo event could be as early as Christmas.
"I'll probably have a month off I reckon. I'll be back around Christmas time. Hopefully [BFG] is the next bull I ride.
"I just love the challenge of bull riding. It is the best feeling in the world."
For the record, fellow NSW bull rider Troy Wilkinson was crowned inaugural overall champion of Rodeo 4 Life.
Wilkinson won $30,000 for winning Australia's richest bull ride.
Event producer and transplant recipient Doug Vickers said just as importantly all proceeds from Rodeo 4 Life will fund vital research at the RPA Transplant Institute.
"I'm not sure of the final tally but it is over $100,000," he said. The show hosted by John Jarratt also included a concert starring country music singers Travis Collins and Victoria McGee, who underwent a heart transplant just seven months ago.
"We'll definitely be back," Vickerson said.