A farmer who was trampled by a prize bull that was ‘spooked’ by an umbrella has said he holds ‘no malice’ towards the animal.
Willy Barron was today reunited with the 16-month-old Barrons Olso following the accident at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate on Tuesday.
The 61-year-old survived serious injury during the incident and has now said it was a spectator’s opening umbrella which caused him to slip on a ramp.
Mr Barron, who bred and reared the bull, was knocked unconscious for a few seconds after suffering a blow to the head but ended up needing just four stitches to a wound behind his ear.
Barrons Oslo was photographed as he charged into his handler, striking him on the head, and dragging him along the ground as shocked viewers watched on.
Willy Barron was charged at by his prize bull Barrons Oslo (pictured together above) earlier this week at the Great Yorkshire Show
This is the moment a prize winning bull got loose in the cattle ring at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate on Tuesday
Mr Barron was trampled on by the bull after the animal was startled by an umbrella. He had to have stitches behind his ear (pictured above)
The farmer from County Durham, has defended Barrons Oslo, saying he meant ‘no malice’.
‘Apparently an umbrella opened in front of us as we were walking together, which startled the bull. When that happened he slipped on the ramp and that really unnerved him.
‘He just wanted to be away from the area at that point, so he ran. I remember being dragged along the floor before being hit in the head and going unconscious.
Mr Barron said he holds ‘no malice’ towards the animal which he had reared and bred himself
Mr Barron (pictured above with the bull) said it was ‘just one of those things’ and that those sorts of things had happened before
Mr Barron was briefly knocked out and was treated by paramedics before being transferred to Harrogate District Hospital on Tuesday
‘I came round after a few seconds and got some treatment.’
Mr Barron added: ‘There was no malice in the bull whatsoever.’
He added that it had just been those two things that had startled him within the space of a few seconds.
‘If it was only the umbrella that went up he would probably have been fine, but he slipped as well and that scared him.’
Mr Barron, who breeds pedigree Limousin bull at his property, Morrow Edge Farm, said: ‘I certainly have no hard feelings about what happened, it’s just one of those things.
Mr Barron (left with the bull) said he was a ‘really good bull’ and that the two of them were fine, the bull pictured right today
Eyewitnesses say panic broke out as the bull charged around the ring, but the animal was quickly brought under control
‘He’s a really good bull and we’re both absolutely fine.
‘I have seen the same kind of thing happen to other people before, just not to myself.’
The incident happened on Tuesday at around 9.45am, moments after Barrons Oslo was crowned champion in the Great Yorkshire Show’s British Limousin class.
Mr Barron had to be stretchered away from the area and transported to Harrogate District Hospital, where he was treated.
He said the loose bull was caught by someone seconds after he bolted and led to a nearby shed to calm down.
After being discharged by doctors, Mr Barron made his way back to the showground to check on Barrons Oslo.
Prior to the incident Barrons Oslo placed first in his class and won three prizes, including ‘best junior exhibitor bred male’ and ‘best British Limousin animal exhibited by a North Eastern Limousin Breeders Club member’.
The show, in its 161st year, is run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and is the largest agricultural show in England. It attracts more than 130,000 visitors and 8,500 animals, showcasing farming, food and countryside.
Speaking one day after the incident a show spokesman told MailOnline: ‘At approximately 9.45am a Limousin bull was being walked out of a ring after being judged when it was spooked and dragged its handler back into and across the ring.
‘The handler required medical attention in the ring and has since been transferred to Harrogate District Hospital with what are thought to be non-serious head injuries.’
An update later on added: ‘The man who was involved in the bull incident earlier today, was released from hospital after suffering a laceration to the neck and sore arm. He has since returned to the showground.’