The rodeo community throughout North America is mourning the loss of Merritt bull rider, Ty Pozzobon.
Pozzobon, 25, died suddenly Monday at the age of 25, said the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. No other information about when or how is currently available about how he died.
"Ty was a talent that comes along very seldom in any sport," the CPRA said via Facebook.
Pozzobon was a three-time Canadian Finals Rodeo qualifier, the 2016 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Canada champion, a four time PBR world finalist and was a well-known and respected fan favourite at the Williams Lake Stampede for roughly the past eight or nine years.
He missed attending the 2016 Williams Lake Stampede due to injury, however, was most recently in the news this past summer after his riding gear was stolen from his car during the Calgary Stampede.
"While all of us mourn the loss of one of our sport's brightest stars, we are painfully aware that we have also lost one of the truly genuine people in this or any sport," the CPRA said.
"The ever-ready Pozzy grin, the endless love and devotion to family and friends, his ability to pick up the spirits of those around him — those are special talents — as great, and maybe even greater, than his superstar ability to ride the rankest bulls in the industry.
"With heavy hearts we say farewell to an outstanding bull rider who made our sport better and an amazing man who made our lives better."