Bull rider Bradie Gray believes his padded vest saved his life after being stomped on by 971 kilo bull

BULL rider Bradie Gray knew he was in “deep ­trouble” the moment he left the gate riding on the back of 971kg of black and white fury named Levi the Boss.

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BULL rider Bradie Gray knew he was in “deep ­trouble” the moment he left the gate riding on the back of 971kg of black and white fury named Levi the Boss.

In a second he was in the air, then sprawled on the dirt under the animal before the massive bull’s hoofs came crashing down on his chest

The slightly built 20-year-old suffered a collapsed lung, a severely bruised heart and nine cracked ribs.

Now, three weeks since being stomped in the College National Finals Rodeo in Wyoming, and after two cardiac arrests and doctors telling his parents their son had a small chance of survival, Bradie is preparing to leave hospital and return to Australia.

Australian Bull rider Bradie Gray recovering in Wymong Hospital after being stomped on a bull that almost weighed one tonne. Picture: Instagram

Like any good cowboy, he is going to get back in the saddle.

“It all happened so ­quickly, but the shock ­kicked in and I didn’t really feel anything,” Tamworth-born Bradie told The Sunday Telegraph from his Wyoming hospital bed.

“I remember the whole ride and then getting back to the shoots (gate). I knew I had been stomped on but after that I blacked out.

“It was a pretty heavy bull. I was wearing a vest and padding. If I was not wearing the padding I probably would not be here.”

Since June 16 the Texas Odessa College student has been at the Wyoming Medical Centre, where he’s undergone numerous operations — the latest being to remove a part of his lung which was beyond repair.

Severe injuries: The moment he was thrown off the bull and stomped on. Picture: Alan Rogers/The Casper Star-Tribune via AP

He suffered a collapsed lung, severely bruised heart and nine cracked ribs. Picture: Alan Rogers/The Casper Star-Tribune via AP

Last week he walked down the hallway from the intensive care unit to the ward, a big step for a man who was on death’s door.

He plans to come back to Australia in a month before getting back into the sport. But he admits some of scars may be psychological.

Asked if he has seen footage of the four-second ride, he said: “I went to watch it but just turned it off.

“It is just so difficult to look at and I could not watch it.

“I’m going to take 6-12 months off, checking that everything is OK physically and mentally.”

Bradie with his mum Sharon and dad Mick, leaving hospital after three-long weeks of recovering. Picture: Supplied

Bradie’s parents Mick and Sharon, both 49, were metres from their son when his chest was crushed.

Mick, a former bull rider himself, knew something was up when Bradie’s coached called him over from the stands.

“His eyes had rolled into the back of his head and he started spitting blood,” he said.

“When that started happening I knew that something was drastically wrong.”

Mick believes his son must have a couple of guardian angels looking over him.