A bull rider from NSW is in a critical condition after a bull threw him off and stomped on his chest while competing in a rodeo in the United States.

Bradie Gray, who hails from Tamworth, has suffered broken ribs, a bruised aorta and collapsed lungs after the incident at Wyoming’s College National Finals Rodeo.

The 20-year-old had no pulse when he arrived at the Wyoming Medical Centre and was placed in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator.

On Sunday morning (AEST) anxious father Mick Gray was taking comfort from small signs of improvement as his son returned to consciousness.

Mr Gray told the Odessa College Rodeo Team the rider had woken and was able to make small movements.

“I thought we had lost him last night it was touch and go for a while,” he said.

Gray was bucked off by a bull named Levi the Boss which then stomped on his chest.

Gray was able to stand up and was pulled into a bucking chute where he was put on a blackboard and taken by ambulance to the hospital.

The College National Finals Rodeo said Gray has undergone two surgeries and his condition is critical but stable.

On Tuesday, Gray, a junior at Odessa College in Texas, told the Star Tribune he was returning from the fifth serious injury of his college rodeo career.

Gray, 20, had no pulse when he arrived at a Wyoming hospital. Photo: AAP

He had suffered a broken back, twice broken his jaw, suffered a torn groin and a broken collarbone.

However, he said “it’s what I love” and “I’ve been bred to do it”.

“I try to ignore it all and just have fun… that’s what you need to do,” he said.

Gray had been riding bulls and steers since he was five years old.