Texas man named Coyote Rooster drowns trying to rescue a calf that fell into a watering pond

A Texas cowboy drowned while rescuing a calf from a ranch’s stock tank.

Coyote ‘Cody’ Rooster Renner, 29, of Cleburne, Texas, had been trying to save a drowning calf at the ranch he worked on when he died on June 27.

Witnesses said Renner, who had been working cattle on the property at that time, saw the calf struggling in the stock tank and entered the pond himself in an attempt to rescue the calf. 

Coyote ‘Cody’ Rooster Renner, 29 (pictured with daughters), died while trying to rescue a calf that was drowning in a stock tank on the Texas ranch that he worked at 

The calf managed to escape, but Renner got stuck in the stock tank — a man-made pond built for watering livestock — and drowned, despite the efforts of first responders.  

‘A stock tank tends to be muddier than a typical lake,’ Cleburn Fire Chief Keith Scarbrough told the Star-Telegram, which may have played a role in Renner’s drowning.

According to Cleburn, the part of the stock tank where Renner’s body was recovered was about six to seven feet deep. 

Renner was also found in his jeans and cowboy boots, the weight of which might’ve resulted in fatiguing him while he was trying to escape from the tank.  

Renner was said to have had experience rescuing calves who had gotten stuck in watering ponds in the past. He was a ranch hand and acted as the elderly ranch owner's caretaker

Renner was said to have had experience rescuing calves who had gotten stuck in watering ponds in the past. He was a ranch hand and acted as the elderly ranch owner’s caretaker

Renner has two daughters, Malorie Danielle, 6 (left), and Sarah Abby-Roo, 22 months

Renner has two daughters, Malorie Danielle, 6 (left), and Sarah Abby-Roo, 22 months

Renner and wife Audrey Renner's third child, nicknamed 'Chicken Little,' is due in August. A GoFundMe page set up in Renner's name has raised more than $8,000

Renner and wife Audrey Renner’s third child, nicknamed ‘Chicken Little,’ is due in August. A GoFundMe page set up in Renner’s name has raised more than $8,000

Cleburn firefighter John Cullen, who was one of the first responders who entered the stock tank to help Renner, said that it was ‘dense with mud.’ 

‘The bottom was silty, anywhere from 6-18 inches deep,’ Cullen told WFAA. ‘Every time you took a step, you had to pull yourself out of a foot, foot-and-a-half of mud.’ 

Renner, a married father of two with a third child on the way, had been working as a ranch hand on the ranch for several years — while also acting as the elderly ranch owner’s caregiver — according to his family.

His family said that Renner had experience successfully rescuing several other calves from water in the past.  

According to the GoFundMe page that was set up in his name, Renner did not have life insurance. 

Funds raised through GoFundMe would help his wife, Audrey Renner, a second grade teacher, pay his funeral costs. Any additional donations would be earmarked for medical expenses incurred with the birth of his third child, nicknamed ‘Chicken Little’ in August, and as savings for the baby, as well as his two daughters, Malorie Danielle, 6, and Sarah Abby-Roo, 22 months. 

Renner was described as being ‘a loving father, a faithful veteran, a hard-working cowboy, a fun-loving goofball, a cherished son, a grateful husband, a caring brother, a devout Christ-follower.’ 

‘Cody was a man of few words, but when he did speak, he lit up a room with laughter and joy,’ Bethany Swoveland wrote on the GoFundMe page. 

‘Every person who called him friend has a humorous, memorable story to cherish about his young, but significant life. His daughters will remember him fondly as a gracious, empathetic, loving father who made time to get on his knees and play. His wife will cherish his memory as an eternal partner whose love death will not deter.’     

Since it was started on June 28, more than $8,200 have been donated. The original goal was set at $5,000.  



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