Sprinting into the path of a bucking 600-kilogram bull is not something most people would consider enjoyable, but it is what Cain Burns does for fun.

Key points: Rodeo clown Cain Burns dived into the path of a 600 kilogram bull at the Halls Creek Rodeo

Rodeo clown Cain Burns dived into the path of a 600 kilogram bull at the Halls Creek Rodeo The act was designed to help save a rider who was caught in a rope

The act was designed to help save a rider who was caught in a rope The coordinated effort, with three fellow clown colleagues, is typical of the profession, which demands quick responses from the men in their roles

The rodeo clown from the Kimberley regularly puts his body on the line to protect riders, but came a little too close for comfort to one rampaging bullock last weekend.

The courageous act, captured by amateur photographer Patrick Karena at the Halls Creek Rodeo, shows the moment Mr Burns dove under the bull while trying to free a rider.

When the rider became trapped in his wrap — the rudimentary rope bull riders use to hang onto their charge — he knew the chance of serious injury was rising with every moment.

A rider became trapped in his wrap at the Halls Creek rodeo last weekend. ( Supplied: Patrick Karena )

Moments to respond

Dashing into the pen with his three rodeo clown mates, Burns made a beeline for an area the average person would instinctively want to avoid the most.

"Someone's always got to go for the head," he said.

The first step in freeing a trapped rider is to force the bull into a straight line which reduces the hazard to flailing limbs.

This allows one of the clowns to reach up and undo the wrap.

"It's a bit of organised chaos," Burns said.

Rodeo clowns at Halls Creek try to free the trapped rider. ( Supplied: Patrick Karena )

The moment, captured frame by frame, appears to show the 27-year-old throwing himself underneath the bull in a sacrificial bid to save the rider.

"I've seen the rider come off and I've just gone full bickie, but I sort of half tripped over in the dirt when I was coming in," Burns said.

"I was going to grab hold of [the bull's] head to just lay on it and I sort of slipped and fell into him."

Rodeo clown Cain Burns escaped serious injury after being trampled. ( Supplied: Patrick Karena )

It was the last place a rodeo clown wants to be.

"I thought 'I'm probably going to get stood on here', so I tried to sort of cover up my face a bit," Burns said.

"When you're under them there's not much you can really do. The bull is going to stand where he's going to stand."

Rodeo clown Cain Burns says he tries not to think about what can go wrong inside the pen. ( Supplied: Patrick Karena )

Despite being trampled by hundreds of kilograms of bucking bull, Burns managed to escape with miraculously minor injuries — a black eye and a skinned nose.

"I just got stood on, I've got a bruise on me arm and got kicked in the face. But it was alright," he said.

Cain Burns says teamwork is the key to escaping serious injury for rodeo clowns. ( Supplied: Patrick Karena )

"I've got up and they pulled [the rider] out, they got him out nice and safe.

"Sometimes you've just got to take a shot and you just get a bit winded or you get a corkie."

Cain Burns escaped being trampled by a bull with bruises and a scratch. ( Supplied )

Rodeo clowns rely on their instinct and experience, often picked as working hands on cattle stations.

Burns said teamwork, above all else, remained the crucial element.

"You've got to have faith in your mates, your other bull fighters, and just think that they've got your back if you do get wrecked," he said.

"You try not to think about getting smashed up too much. It doesn't do your mindset any good."