A bull has charged through a crowd at an outback rodeo, terrifying spectators and leaving two people injured.
Social media vision of the incident initially shows dozens of people line dancing in the rodeo arena, in the East Kimberley town of Kununurra, on Saturday night.
Then people can be heard screaming as a bull charges through the arena, prompting the dancers to flee to the fences.
Parents can also be heard loudly calling out to children in the arena.
Witnesses say rodeo staff and other volunteers raced to contain the out-of-control animal.
Natalie Ripps' daughter Aubree, 5, was hospitalised with head injuries after she was trampled by people trying to escape the arena.
"Aubree, in the chaos of it all, was knocked to the ground," she said.
"And then she was stomped on by a number of people trying to get to safety.
"She copped a boot to the head and few stomps on her legs."
She said Aubree had since been discharged from hospital and the rodeo's volunteer organisers had been in regular contact.
"We definitely got an apology. They were really remorseful and apologetic about what had happened," Ms Ripps said.
"A lot of them are parents themselves and I think some of their kids might have been in there.
"They've invited Aubree out to the rodeo ground just to be around it again and get used to it again."
St John Ambulance WA told the ABC a man in his 30s was also taken to Kununurra Hospital as a precaution.
Rodeo rider Lance Bedford Jr said he raced into the arena to help contain the panicked bull.
"They [the bulls] don't like to stand too long in the chute … [it] ended up busting through the gate," he said.
"We all ran out, but luckily they opened the gate and the bull ran straight in and they shut the gate behind him."
'They were all traumatised and scared'
Beck Mack was at the rodeo with her extended family.
Their seven children had gone into the arena at the invitation of the line dancers.
"I heard a noise and I thought I heard someone say 'There's a bull out,'" she said.
"It was a really big shock."
Suddenly her four-year-old son was lost in the crowd.
"I was in there too and just had a one-track mind — to find my son," Ms Mack said.
"I found out later that a lady had helped my son and got him to safety. I'm eternally grateful for her doing that.
"There wasn't a dry eye from any of the kids when they got back to us. They were all traumatised and scared."
Another woman, who did not want to be named, said her son, seven, and her daughter, two, were in the arena when the incident happened.
"The line dancers were performing and they invited the kids into the arena to teach them to dance… and then my friend yelled 'there's a cow in there'," she said.
"Everyone started shouting, scrambling, running… there was lots of pushing. I watched my son and he had my daughter's hand and they ran back to the fence as I was calling them.
"It was a crazy scene."
The Top End Mustering Rodeo typically marks the end of the Ord Valley Muster festival, which runs during May in Kununurra.
The Muster website describes the event as the largest rodeo in the Kimberley and a great day for families.
Rodeo investigation
In a statement, the Kununurra Campdraft and Rodeo Association said an investigation was underway.
"The Kununurra Campdraft & Rodeo and Association Inc (KCRA) is currently investigating an incident that occurred during its annual May rodeo," it read.
"During the half-time entertainment, a bull entered the arena where event attendees were gathered.
"Two people sustained minor injuries requiring treatment.
"The animal was swiftly and professionally removed from the arena by event officials.
"The KCRA is committed to the safety and welfare of attendees, participants and animals, and works hard to ensure their event strictly adheres to the Code of Practice for the conduct of rodeos, which is a requirement of the Western Australian government."
