A moment of excitement at a Texas rodeo turned devastating, drawing an outpouring of grief from the bull riding world and the young athlete’s family.
Dylan Grant, a professional bull rider from Pavillion, Wyoming, died after being trampled by a bull during a PRCA Xtreme Bulls event at the Wharton County Youth Fair on April 3.
According to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the 24-year-old was bucked off during the second round and then stepped on by the animal.
Medics rushed to the arena and immediately loaded Grant into an ambulance to begin life-saving measures. He was later flown by helicopter to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston, where he passed away from his injuries.
“Dylan was double tough,” his father, Wade Grant, shared during an interview following the tragedy. “What happened to Dylan last night was very, very, very, very rare. It was a freak accident.”
The PRCA released a statement the following day confirming Grant’s death and expressing its condolences to his loved ones and the entire rodeo community.
The young bull rider first obtained his PRCA permit in 2018 and officially bought his card on February 14, 2024. Over the years, he competed in several PRORODEO and Xtreme Bulls events, earning more than $15,000.
One of the standout moments of his career came in 2021, when he was still competing for the University of Wyoming’s rodeo team.
Grant won the bull riding title at the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo in Loveland, Colorado, with 169.5 points on two head — including an 86.5-point ride in Round 3 on The Cervi Brothers’ Classic Equine Bad Memory.
On April 4, Grant’s dad posted a photo of him bull riding to Facebook with a heartfelt caption, “And Cowboy Was His Name!!!”
Professional Bull Riders CEO Sean Gleason also shared a tribute via Instagram, writing, “It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Dylan Grant, a talented bull rider from Pavillion, Wyoming who lost his life competing Thursday night at the Wharton County Youth Fair’s PRCA Xtreme Bulls event in Texas.”
“Dylan was blessed as an athlete – a state champion from Jackson Hole High School and a proud University of Wyoming alumnus – but more than that, he was known for his kindness, compassion and big heart. His spirit touched everyone who knew him,” Gleason added.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and everyone who had the honor of knowing Dylan,” the post continued. The University of Wyoming Rodeo Team, where Grant had competed as a student-athlete, also posted its own statement on Facebook.
It read in part, “The University of Wyoming Rodeo Team is heartbroken in learning of the passing of former student-athlete Dylan Grant, who tragically lost his life in a bull riding accident in Texas. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dylan’s father, Wade, and Dylan’s mother Tiffany during this unthinkable time.”
At the time of his death, Grant maintained a Facebook page with over 1,000 friends — a reflection of how deeply he had impacted those around him. In the days since the accident, tributes have continued to flood in, honoring not just his athletic talent, but also his warm spirit and enduring legacy within the rodeo world.
His tragic passing is a heartbreaking reminder of the recent losses in the sports world. A devastating nightclub fire in North Macedonia claimed the lives of at least 59 people, including a 25-year-old soccer player.
The tragic blaze broke out at the Pulse club in Kocani around 2:30 a.m. local time on March 16, where nearly 500 people had gathered to watch a concert by the popular hip-hop duo DNK.
Witnesses said chaos erupted as the flames spread rapidly, leaving little time for an orderly evacuation. Authorities revealed that the fire started when sparks from pyrotechnic effects ignited the club’s ceiling, which was made of highly flammable material.
Footage from the event showed two flares going off on stage, quickly setting the ceiling ablaze. Some videos captured people desperately trying to extinguish the flames while others remain in the club, unaware of the growing danger.
Panic soon set in as attendees rushed toward the venue’s only functional exit, leading to a deadly stampede. The nightclub, previously a carpet warehouse, was operating without a legal license, according to Interior Minister Pance Toskovski.
Officials reported that the building had only one efficient exit, as its back door was locked and could not be used.
Biljana Arsovska, spokesperson for the public prosecutor’s office, noted several other serious safety violations, including a lack of functioning fire-extinguishing systems and an inadequate emergency response plan.
Survivors described horrifying scenes as people fought to escape. Marija Taseva, 20, recalled being caught in the crowd as people scrambled for the exits. “I don’t know how, but somehow I managed to get out,” she told reporters.
“I’m fine now, but there are many dead.” She later confirmed that her 25-year-old sister had died in the fire, saying, “I was saved and she wasn’t.”
Andrej Lazarov, a soccer player for Football Club Shkupi, lost his life while courageously trying to help others flee. In a heartfelt statement, the club described him as a “heroic soul” who risked everything to assist those trapped inside.
“He was overcome by smoke inhalation during his efforts to save lives, demonstrating courage and humanity until his final moments,” the statement read.
While he had only been with Shkupi for six months, the club vowed that his name would forever be remembered as part of their team. “His memory will always be cherished in our hearts,” the club stated.
Lazarov’s passing sent shockwaves through the football community at large, with his former club, HNK Gorica, also honoring his memory with a tribute on Instagram.
“You will forever remain a part of our family,” they captioned a post of the later soccer player. The 25-year-old had signed with the Croatian club in January 2024 before later joining Football Club Shkupi.
His selfless actions in the face of disaster have made him a symbol of courage and heroism, ensuring that his legacy lives on beyond the pitch.
As for the aftermath of the fire, Red Cross volunteer Mustafa Saidov said, “The situation is brutal, chaotic. The stories are very sad, and unfortunately many young lives are lost.”
Emergency responders confirmed that many of the victims suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation, with over 20 of the injured and three of the deceased being minors at the time of writing.
Some critically wounded victims were transferred to specialist clinics in Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey for advanced medical care.
The North Macedonian government detained 15 individuals linked to the venue’s operations at the time of publication, citing suspicions of bribery and corruption in how the nightclub was allowed to function despite its numerous safety violations.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski called it one of the deadliest tragedies in the country’s history and declared seven days of national mourning.
North Macedonia’s President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, expressed her deep sorrow, stating that she was shocked “as a mother, as a person, as a president.”
Addressing the bereaved directly, she added, “Your immense pain is mine too.” She also called for stricter safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Marta Kos’, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, also posted a tribute on X, sharing in part, “Deeply saddened by the tragic fire in Kočani North Macedonia, which claimed lives of too many young people.”
