Injured Paicines bronc rider John Flook is listed in “fair to good” condition at Regional Medical Center of San Jose after suffering injuries during the rodeo at Bolado Park over the weekend, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Flook was injured around 3 p.m. Sunday on the final day of the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo as he was trying to showcase an alternative type of bronc riding.
The showcase was not on the rodeo schedule.
As Flook and the horse left the chute, the horse reared back, kicking Flook off. The horse followed Flook to the ground, falling on top of him.
Flook remained face first and motionless on the ground as people tried to move the horse away from him. Rodeo workers and participants came running in from the nearby chutes to help Flook on the ground. An ambulance immediately drove on the dirt arena to treat Flook.
Over the loudspeaker, the announcer asked for medical personnel in the audience to help. Soon after, two people from the grandstands ran into the arena.
At that time, all festivities on the track were halted.
Responders treated Flook before calling for a helicopter to fly him to a local hospital. Rodeo workers prepared the south end of the arena by watering down the dirt and marking the ground with a giant white “X.”
The helicopter departed at 3:36 p.m. It was announced that Flook was talking and could wiggle his toes.
Fellow local saddle bronc rider Elliot French is hoping the community shows support:
“He means a lot to me as a bronc rider and as a friend. He’s one of the best guys I know,” French said. “He does a lot for other people and he deserves the support of everybody right now.”
After his win in the San Benito County rodeo’s pro saddle bronc event on Saturday, French’s mind was instead focused on Flook’s health:
“That’s first and foremost,” he said. “It was a freak accident, too. It could have happened to any one of us. The fact that it happened to John, and as good a guy as John is, it hits home pretty hard.”
