DENVER — A young rodeo cowboy who was seriously injured at the National Western Stock Show has been released from a Denver hospital.
The National Western Stock Show shared an update Thursday that Austin Broderson was released from the hospital on Thursday and will begin traveling back to his home in Canada.
Broderson, a 19-year-old collegiate athlete, was seriously injured Jan. 15 in a bareback pro rodeo competition inside the Denver Coliseum at the National Western Stock Show.
Witnesses told 9NEWS that Broderson's hand got caught in the rigging and he wasn't able to free himself. He was stomped by the horse he was riding, knocked unconscious and bleeding heavily, according to witnesses.
Broderson will continue his rehabilitation with the support of Canadian medical teams, the Stock Show said.
Broderson's mother, Samantha, spoke with 9NEWS about her son's condition. She said he's working through internal bleeding, a damaged artery, a fractured hip, loss of muscle feeling and spinal bruises.
Despite all this, she said her son is "miraculously doing as well as possible."
A GoFundMe has been created to assist Broderson with his recovery in Canada. As of Jan. 26, more than $85,000 has been raised in the campaign.
"Austin and his family are grateful for the support and outreach from everyone in the community and the rodeo family," the Stock Show said in a statement. "Please visit the Austin Broderson GoFundMe page where the family will continue to provide updates on Austin’s recovery."
Broderson is from Turin, Alberta, Canada, which is about an hour and a half north of the U.S. border with Montana. Broderson attends Casper College in Wyoming and is a member of the school's rodeo team.
Samantha Broderson said she was watching Austin perform live from her home in Canada on Jan. 15. When he fell off the horse, she said she immediately got on the road for Denver.
Samantha said she's thankful for the people who have shown her family love since the accident, as well as for the medical team who have been attending to her son's medical needs.
Austin was supported by medical staff on-site, including physicians out of the Justin Sports Medicine Team at the Stock Show. Athletic trainer Chad Smidt said the cowboy's situation required an all-hands-on-deck effort.
"There’s always that inherent risk with rodeo that every time somebody opens that shoot gate, something bad can happen," Smidt said. "For the most part, it doesn’t, but you have to be prepared for those times when it does happen."
Smidt said he isn't often part of situations that call for serious response and transportation. Most of his work is tending to everyday injuries.
"Bumps and bruises, muscle tears, strains, a little bit of everything," Smidt said. "We’re working with them, stretching them, doing some therapy to try and help them get through their next ride."
"It’s very rewarding — that’s why we’re here, to help people," Smidt said. "So it doesn’t matter if it’s something minor or something very serious, we’re still going to do everything we can to help that athlete out."
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: National Western Stock Show
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