A woman participating in the hair-raising antics of a local rodeo event in Florida is recovering today after a bull pummelled her to the ground and almost killed her.
Desiree Cicero was competing in a 'money grab' event at the annual Cracker Day festival at the Volusia County Fairground when what was meant to be an afternoon of fun and games turned into a life-threatening situation.
While trying to grab a ribbon from between the bull's horns, Ms Cicero was taken down by the crazed creature. But content with one assault, the bull circled back and attacked her once more.
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Horny: Desiree Cicero was gored by a crazed bull during an event known as the 'money grab', part of the annual Cracker Day festival, where competitors try and grab a ribbon from between the horns of the bull
Recovering in shock, Ms Cicero told Local 6: 'All I remember is the impact - and my kid screaming. He hit me in my back, on my side, where I have my broken rib.
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'I knew it was coming. I mean it felt like being hit by a bull. There is no other way to describe it.'
Alive: Desiree Cicero says she won't be entering the money grab again any time soon
Suffering a dislocated shoulder, broken rib, hole in her arm and scratches all over, Ms Cicero is thankful to be alive,
She also knows she owes a huge debt of thanks to the heroic 19-year-old marine who rushed to her aide after she was taken down the first time.
As John Weideman-Beal, tried to tend to Ms Cicero, the bull returned, trampling the two of them and kicking the marine in the head.
'Just the fact that the bull had time to circle and come back and, you know, just run over me again - it's just crazy,' she said as she lay in her bed at home.
Mr Weideman-Beal, who risked his own life to save her by using his body as a shield to protect Ms Cicero, survived relatively unscathed.
'He got me right in the head, I mean, I think that should have killed me and it's an act of God that it didn't,' he gushed.
The disturbing event is already a popular video on You Tube. Watching the footage though for Ms Cicero however, is emotional.
'Knowing that I was that close to having my life taken away from me, it's devastating,' said the mother, recognising how lucky she was that Mr Weideman-Beal's was there to help.
Help: A young Marine, John Weideman-Beal, 19, unknown to Ms Cicero was trying to help her as the bull circled back and crushed them both a second time
Squashed! The bull at the Volusia County Rodeo in Florida kicked the marine in the head as he protected Ms Cicero but remarkably he survived relatively unscathed
'He's such a hero,' she gushed to Wesh TV.
'I want to say thank you to John for doing what he did and saving my life. He's an excellent guy,' she added to Local 6.
Hero: John Weideman-Beal believes the fact that they are both still alive is 'an act of God'
Battle wounds: Ms Cicero has a dislocated shoulder, broken rib, hole in her arm and scratches all over but is expected to make a full recovery
The modest marine, who admitted to having no insurance, said he was compelled only by instinct and by training when he rushed to Ms Cicero's side.
'I wasn't thinking about the prize money, I wasn't thinking about the guys on horses, I was thinking about Desiree', he told Wesh TV.
Spectator Kim Minot who watched the horrifying fiasco from the stands confessed: 'I was actually surprised at the amount of women out there, chasing the bulls. It's crazy but it's rodeo.'
Watch video here!
WARNING GRAPHIC: Bull runs over woman...twice
