Hero dad plays down video of him laying on top of son, 18, who was charged by bull at Texas rodeo

A cowboy who was seen on video lying on top of his unconscious son to protect him from a raging bull says his mind went blank before he sprung into action, adding that it’s all just ‘part of the everyday cowboy life where I come from.’  

Landis Hooks, of Louisiana, has been hailed as a hero for coming to the rescue of his 18-year-old bull-rider son, Cody Hooks, who had been flung off the animal during an exhibition event at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton, Texas, last month.  

The 40-year-old father formed a human shield over his son and even took a hit from the bull’s head as it charged toward the pair. The crowd roared in shock, but Landis kept his body pressed firmly down while the bull rampaged about.

‘No matter what, I’m gonna do what I gotta do for him,’ Landis said in an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday. ‘Right out the gate, he fell off.’ 

But he isn’t interested in the praise that’s come his way since he video went viral earlier this week, and played down the dramatic incident. 

‘That’s just part of the everyday cowboy life where I come from. Somebody gets down, you gotta help them,’ he added. ‘But I am glad I was there though.’

Scroll down for video: 

Landis recalled that ‘everything just got quiet’ when he saw his son fall off the bull immediately after starting to ride it.

‘I just wanted to make sure that sucker didn’t come back and get on top of him like he was about to,’ he told Good Morning America.

Asked by reporter Kaylee Hartung if anyone could’ve stopped him, he said: ‘No ma’am. Not at all. He knows how I am and nobody could’ve stopped me.’

In a video appearance, Cody emphasized that he’s aware of the dangers that come with bull-riding.

‘I think about it all the time. A lot of people don’t like to think about the injuries that happen in bull riding, especially after they get on,’ he said.

In the now-viral clip shared to Instagram, Cody can be seen being hurled off the bull moments after the animal bursts from its stall and into the packed arena.  

Rendered unconscious by the fall, Cody lies motionless as the irate bull continues to run and buck around the ring. 

The footage shows several cowboys and rodeo wranglers attempting to reel in the beast to no avail as the bull continues to rampage around the arena.

At one point in the clip, which spans less than 20 seconds, the animal can be seen making a charge for the still-unconscious Cody.

Seemingly recognizing the gravity of the situation, Landis, who had been in the crowd as a spectator to watch his son’s performance, quickly jumped into action just seven seconds after Cody was slammed to the floor, hopping a fence into the ring and running to his son, the recording shows.    

As the bull charges forward, Landis does the unthinkable and drapes his body over his boy, forming a human shield to protect him.  

‘You see that cowboy lay his life over the top,’ an announcer can be heard saying in the heart-pounding clip. 

The video then shows Landis blocking a charge from the animal using his own body, putting it between the bull and Cody’s head, which likely would have been struck – and even gorged – if the quick-thinking father had not acted.

Now, social media users are calling Landis – who took the brunt of the impact but suffered only minor injuries from the incident – a hero for the mind-blowing feat, after his son posted the footage to his Instagram account.  

‘Not one to post falling off, but big thanks to my dad @hooks.landis and the bullfighters last night in Belton, Tx could’ve been a hella lot worse,’ wrote the teen – who came out of the encounter unscathed and had been professionally bull riding since last year – of his father’s courageous act. 

Others quickly followed suit, as the clip went on to garner widespread, national attention.

‘Every dad hopes he’d take action like this one did. Impressive,’ one user wrote in response to a repost of the clip on Twitter that has garnered more than million views.

‘A father willing to lay down his life for his son!,’ another marveled.

‘We are glad you’re okay! Rest up!’ someone else wrote.

Another added: ‘That’s a hell of a Dad you got!’ 

‘I just wanted to say you and your dad are both incredible human beings,’ an additional user gushed, ‘This made me tear up as a mom watching your relationship and your dad’s love for you. Strong men! Glad you’re both okay!’