Firefighter Jumps Into Well To Save Fallen Brahma Bull

FOLSOM (CBS13) - Don't let his big brown eyes fool you; the nearly 2,000 pound rodeo bull may have some beef.

He's was stuck in a well, fuming, splashing, ready to buck, even a professional matador wouldn't stand a chance.

But firefighter Brice Mitchell signed up to go head to hoof.

"Kind of concerned with its tendency to explode on you," Mitchell said.

It is an angry animal.

But Mitchell, a member of the Vet Emergency Response Team is brave enough to harness up and hop in.

"Concern was not to get locked or squished," said Mitchell.

Lucky for Mitchell, the bull was pretty knocked out when he went in the well.

A UC Davis vet mastered the perfect cocktail to keep him from putting up a fight as the tow truck and crane brought the bovine out.

"They never came close to getting injured because he was at a good place of sedation," said Dr. Cheryl Ellis. "He was awake the whole time, but calm.

Ellis knows her stuff, in fact she trains students and firefighters at UC Davis for scenarios just like this.

"Within 10 minutes, he was up and walking away, could not have gone better," said Ellis.

All's well that ends well at this well.

"He's probably got a bit of a headache but he's doing good," said Mitchell.

And, for the 10 year veteran firefighter, this rumble on a ranch earned him some serious cowboy credentials, but not enough to get him in a rodeo ring anytime soon.

"No background with rodeo, it's about being aggressive getting in there," said Mitchell.