Hope for rodeo star's three-year-old son Levi Wright as family reveals he's 'making strides' in hospital after driving tractor into river

23/05/2024

Rodeo star Spencer Wright's son Levi, 3, was pronounced brain dead Tuesday He has since showed signs of recovery, a family friend revealed READ MORE: Dashcam video shows moment female trucker plunged off bridge

A rodeo star's son who was initially declared brain dead is now miraculously on the road to recovery.

On Tuesday, three-year-old Levi Wright drove his toy tractor into a river around 6 pm and vanished under the water, leading to a desperate scramble to find him.

Levi's mother reportedly dove in and saved him before he was raced to hospital, but while life-saving measures restored his heartbeat, the boy never regained consciousness and was declared brain dead, ABC4 reported.

But a friend and family spokesperson Mindy Sue Clark posted a positive update on Facebook from Levi's parents, Spencer and Kallie Wright.

The message shared by Clark on behalf Kallie at 9:30 pm Wednesday reads: 'Not much change in Levi since our last update but I do want you to know that we have received multiple small miracles along the way and doctors are certainly surprised by the strides he has made.

Levi Wright (in father's arms), 3, the son of rodeo star Spencer Wright (right), was raced to hospital after driving his toy tractor into a fast-moving river stream

'He is fevering so they're keeping him really cold which is hard to watch, I can just hear him saying, "Mommy, I'm pretty cold.'' He is getting an EEG, to monitor any brain activity and we haven't heard much on what they're seeing yet.

'They've also started him on antibiotics and will do an MRI Friday or Saturday! We are unbelievably humbled by the love and prayers we have received, the help in all forms that is flooding our way is surreal.

'We miss our other babies, Mom hasn't spent a night away from baby until now but Brae and Steeley are in the best hands!

'The doctors and staff here at primaries have been outstanding! We don't know what the future holds, please don't let prayers for my baby dim or his story become old news! Keep praying for him.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the family spokesperson for comment.

Mindy Sue Clark has shared a positive update on Facebook regarding Levi's recovery, stating the family has 'received multiple miracles along the way'

The statement reads: 'Levi is fevering so they're keeping him really cold which is hard to watch, I can just hear him saying "mommy, I'm pretty coldy". He is getting an eeg, to monitor any brain activity and we haven't heard much on what they're seeing yet.'

When Levi drove into the river, it was reported that the person who called 911 frantically told the dispatcher that they couldn't see him under the fast-moving currents.

His mother reportedly realized he had sneaked off and ran to the river, and jumped into the currents to save him, with her friend saying she 'was the one who found him, she got him out.'

A huge response of rescue teams from the Beaver County Sheriff's Office, the Utah Highway Patrol, the Beaver County Search and Rescue team, and Beaver firefighters were quickly on the scene.

The crews administered life-saving efforts before an ambulance raced him to Beaver County hospital, and he was later airlifted to Salt Lake City via helicopter.

Clark told ABC4 at the time that he was being cared for at Salt Lake City Hospital, but unless he makes a dramatic recovery, he was not expected to survive.

In a Facebook statement shared by Clark on Tuesday, the family said Levi's heart was 'beating on its own', but he was not showing signs of rehabilitation.

Levi Wright, 3, the son of rodeo star Spencer Wright, was raced to hospital after driving his toy tractor into a fast-moving river stream

The statement reads: 'They've also started [Levi] on antibiotics and will do an MRI Friday or Saturday! We are unbelievably humbled by the love and prayers we have received, the help in all forms that is flooding our way is surreal.'

Levi snuck away from his family in the toy tractor (pictured), and his mother reportedly dove into the river to save him after he disappeared under the currents

Just Tuesday, the family said Levi's heart was 'beating on its own', but he was not showing signs of rehabilitation in a Facebook statement

'He has a will to breathe, but his sweet little brain was without oxygen too long and there is no coming back from that,' the family said.

'We cuddled him all night and feel strongly that his spirit is no longer with us. We can’t be selfish and drag this out for days, he doesn’t deserve that. Shortly we will stop care and hold him close until his last breath on earth. My Baby, my beans, Mom & Dad love you always and forever!'

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Clark added that the family will have 'more to share soon', but asked to 'please give them more time to navigate through this process.'

Clark previously told Fox13Now that after Levi was admitted to hospital, his uncle had been tickling his feet for a response, that led him to 'open his eyes a few times', however he did not recover further.

'Even though Levi is such a sweet and tender-hearted little boy, he's a boy through and through, he's a cowboy through and through, he's a Wright through and through,' she said at the time.

Clark described Levi as the 'sweetest, kindest little boy,' adding: 'He will tell you he is a T-Rex, and he is as strong as a T-Rex.'

The Wright family have not publicly spoken since the tragedy, but Clark said the support from the rodeo community 'means the world' to them.

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Spencer Wright, ranked 35th in the rodeo world rankings, and his family said the outpouring of support they have received 'means the world' to them

Spencer Wright's family is among the most prominent in the history of rodeo, and his father, Bill Wright, was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

Spencer is ranked 35th in the world rankings, and his siblings are also renowned athletes in the sport.

ProRodeo CEO Tom Glause said in a statement, 'The entire ProRodeo community’s heart aches for the Wright family. We will continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers.'