** UPDATE - Reports on Friday, Jan. 12 were that Bill Lewis would be undergoing surgery for his broken neck today. Lewis was reported to have some feeling in his extremities but the extent of the damage from his injury received during the first round of the circuit finals has not yet been fully released.
HARRISBURG, Pa. – PRCA saddle bronc rider Bill Lewis, of Elizabeth, Colorado, was seriously injured while competing in the First Frontier Circuit Finals here on Thursday, Jan. 11.
During his ride on an unidentified bronc, Lewis lost his seat and went forward over the bronc’s head. Lewis hit the dirt hard, head-first, in au ugly wreck.
After landing in the arena, Lewis was not moving. It took the paramedics approximately 15 minutes to stabilize Lewis and place him on a backboard to remove him from the arena, to encouraging cheers from the crowd. During that time, he was reported to be conscious but not moving.
The early reports are that Lewis suffered a broken neck in the buck-off. It will reportedly be at least several days before the doctors can perform surgery. No further information is available yet.
Lewis has been a regular competitor in the First Frontier Circuit, and has traveled to the national Circuit Finals championships in Pocatello, Idaho representing the circuit. He was currently in the points lead for the saddle bronc title again in the circuit at the time of his injury.
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