3-year-old recovering in Las Vegas hospital after she was kicked in head by wild horse

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A family photo shoot turned into a terrifying ordeal for a Las Vegas family after a near-death experience for their 3-year-old child.

On Saturday night, a Las Vegas family went to the Upper Lee Meadows just south of Lee Canyon for a planned photo shoot, but all of that changed, rather quickly.

“I didn’t know if my daughter was dead or not,” Austin Wilkey, father of 3-year-old Olivia, said. “I heard her crying and that was amazing to know she was alive.”

The family was laying out blankets and getting ready to take pictures when a wild Mustang approached the area they were in.

Olivia’s mother Haily Wilkey told her son to move away from the Mustang when all of a sudden one of them galloped and the tail hit their 8-year-old daughter, and the hoof kicked Olivia in the head. Hailey then rushed over to her daughter’s side of her.

“My wife had to hold her head shut and she got so tired that another gentleman stepped in and held her head shut,” Austin explained.

Austin himself had to run off to find cell service and get help. A flight for life helicopter took Olivia to a nearby hospital in Las Vegas while the rest of the family met them at the hospital.

“We drove here immediately just as the helicopter was landing,” Olivia’s grandma Shanna Sims said. “Please let her be okay I couldn’t imagine losing her.”

Doctors had to monitor Olivia for 12 hours before a neurosurgeon performed a nearly three-hour surgery to repair her skull. Now on top of fighting for her life, Olivia’s family is fighting medical bills. They have set up a GoFundMe page to help.

“I’ll make payments the rest of my life, I don’t care.” Austin said. “Just get her to safety.”

Olivia is currently recovering in the ICU and is expected to be released at the end of the week. She still remembers the kick and is eating and drinking now, but the long-term prognosis is not known yet.

“It’s really a miracle, a blessing,” Austin said.

Sims hopes something can be done to keep wild horses away from people.

“She’s just starting her life so for me I think people need to be very wary,” she said.

The family also wanted to thank the strangers who helped them on the mountain that day, including two people Jose and Jesse.

Mt. Charleston Fire and Rescue sent the following statement Monday night:

On 03/08/2024 at 6:12 pm Mt Charleston Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a child kicked in the head by a horse in Upper Lee Meadows in Lee Canyon. Upon arrival the crew on scene found the child to be in critical condition. The Child was life flown to UMC. The US Forest Service will be investigating the cause of the attack.

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