Champion bull rider from B.C. dies at age 25

Rodeo fans are mourning the death of champion bull rider Ty Pozzobon.

The 25-year-old from Merritt, B.C., died suddenly Monday morning. The cause of death has not been revealed.

"It's a shock," said family friend Ed Lebourdais.

"For B.C., we're not going to see another Ty Pozzobon for a number of years whatthe guy did was just that good.He pushed himself to be the best."

Pozzobonwas the 2016 ProBull Riders Canada champion, and finished fourth at the 2016 Professional Bull Riders world finals in Las Vegas in November.

On Jan. 3, Pozzobon posted to Facebook that he had just signed on with a new sponsor.

In a statement, the Pozzobon family asked that in lieu of flowers, people make donations to the Rider Relief Fund, which provides financial assistance to people injured in the bull riding industry.

"It's important that people know about the implications of head injuries as a result of concussions," said Leanne Pozzobon, Ty's mother, in a statement.