A Hill Country firefighter is fighting through intensive care after a bull slammed him against a gate while he was working a Bandera rodeo last Monday. Brandon Lee, a father of three and a veteran first responder, suffered serious chest and eye injuries and was rushed to University Hospital, where he remains under close watch. Friends and fellow volunteers say the road back will be long, and the medical bills are already stacking up.
According to MySanAntonio, Lee was “hooked and pinned” between a bull and a gate on Feb. 23 while working the Riding on Faith Rodeo. He was taken to University Hospital with two broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a laceration to his left eye. Medical staff inserted a chest tube and placed him in the intensive care unit, the outlet reports, adding that Lee has served as a firefighter and first responder for about 25 years.
A fundraiser organized by Karen and Troy Konvicka is collecting donations to help cover Lee’s medical expenses and lost income while he recovers. The GoFundMe page outlines the severity of the accident and lists early donations toward a $3,500 goal to help the family weather the immediate financial hit.
The rodeo and where it happened
The incident took place during the Riding on Faith Rodeo’s regular events at Mansfield Park Rodeo Arena, just north of Bandera. Local community calendars and event directories list Mansfield Park as the home arena for the series, with the schedule pointing to it as the usual venue. Bandera Cowboy Capital listings highlight the Riding on Faith series as a recurring summer attraction in town.
Rodeo safety and recent history
Rodeo work and bull riding are notoriously risky for both riders and arena crews, and the Riding on Faith series has seen tragedy before. Local coverage last year detailed the death of 22-year-old bull rider Peter De Luna after a May 31, 2024, fall at Mansfield Park, a grim reminder of how quickly things can turn at even small-town events. KSAT covered the aftermath and community memorials.
Community response and fundraising
Friends and rodeo colleagues say Lee is the kind of volunteer who works both ends of the arena and shows up early to prep the grounds. The fundraiser organizers write, “Brandon has been part of our Riding on Faith Rodeo family for 9 years,” and the page asks for help with out-of-pocket hospital costs and lost wages while he heals. GoFundMe shows the campaign is already drawing support from across the local rodeo community.
Lee remains under close care at University Hospital as his family and friends wait for further updates. For now, the main public details about his condition are coming from local reporting and the fundraiser page. This story will be updated as official statements or additional reporting become available, including from MySanAntonio.
