Mystery, as a teenager, dies while riding a bull at the Rafter K Rodeo in North Carolina

A 14-year-old boy died after suffering cardiac arrest while riding a bull at a rodeo for the first time, officials and his family said.

The rider, identified by promoters on Facebook as Denim Bradshaw, died in the hospital Saturday after riding a bull at the Rafter K Rodeo Winter Series at American Legion Post 290 in King, North Carolina, officials said .

His sister wrote on a GoFundMe page that it was the first bull he had ever ridden in a rodeo.

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Emergency responders responded to reports of a patient in cardiac arrest around 8:24 p.m. local time, Stokes County emergency services director Brandon Gentry told NBC affiliate WRAL.

Denim was riding a bull when he went into cardiac arrest and later died in hospital, Gentry said.

It remained unclear what triggered the boy’s health emergency.

“This is a tragic event and words cannot describe the pain of this loss,” Rafter K Rodeo Company wrote on Facebook.

‘My Little Cowboy’

Denim’s mother, Shannon Bowman, shared her heartbreak in a Facebook post Jan. 29.

“Last night was the longest night of my life,” she wrote.

“My beautiful, handsome 14 year old son went to the Lord! I woke up in a nightmare for the rest of my life!

“I hate myself for that call but he loved every second of it. (I) have never seen him so happy as last night before he left.

“Denim baby, you did it,” she continued. “You did it!! I am so proud of your bravery and courage! My little cowboy, I will love and miss you so much and I know that God will take care of you.”

A GoFundMe page apparently set up by his sister Persephone Bowman shared more details about his life, including his dream of becoming a police officer.

“Denim dived into the world of bull riding and fell in love. The boots, the cowboy hats and those big belt buckles – he loved everything,” his sister wrote.

“He got to ride his first bull on January 28th and his excitement was palpable.

“None of us could have believed that that first ride would cause his death and we are beyond devastated.

“Our sweet 14 year old boy lost his life at the most exciting moment of his short life and we are now lost without him.”