Don’t try this at home.
Some people watch reality TV to see strangers fall in love (Love Is Blind, Scholar) or to chase the dreamer (Voice, American Idol), but the genre may be extreme sports.
Share like Naked and Scared and Alone push contestants to the limit as they try to survive in the desert with very few supplies. When that from us watching from the couch might think the contestants are never in danger – after all, there’s always a camera operator nearby, right? – survival events can be dangerous.
“You have a camera man, a sound man and a producer, but they don’t stay with you all day. You are left with a diary camera to make your own film,” Kaila Cummingswhich has emerged in several seasons from Naked and Scaredtoward The Guardian in 2023. “If something happens – and I hope you haven’t blacked out – you have to take the walkie-talkie and call the medics. But the medics are usually anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes.
A lot can go wrong when you’re alone in the unforgiving wilderness. Surrounded by two lions in a flimsy shelter, “going into anaphylactic shock” after taking multiple ant bites and fighting a poisonous 15-foot black mamba snake with a bow and arrow were just a few of the situations Cumings faced on the show.
Discovery Channel Naked and Afraid gives viewers exactly what it says on the tin. Each episode follows the journey of two people meeting for the first time, completely naked, and trying to survive in the desert for 21 days. When meeting in a predetermined location – whether India or Mozambique – the partners (…)
Given the significant risk, it can be hard to believe that shows like that Naked and Scared abide. But Ian Dunkleyproducer for Alonewho sent 10 people into the desert with limited equipment and tasked them with surviving as long as possible, saying they were “not in the business of killing anybody.”
“Anyone who goes into the series with their eyes open. They’re given what’s known in the business as ‘the talk of death,’ explaining the worst that can happen,” Dunkley said. The Guardian. “You have a very thick stack of papers, saying you’re going to enter life.”
Survival shows aren’t the only example of high-stakes reality TV. Keep scrolling to see the most dangerous reality shows of all time.
‘Children’s Country’
The short-lived CBS show had a seemingly wholesome premise: a group of kids tasked with creating a functioning government and society on a ranch in New Mexico. However, the participants, who ranged in age from 8 to 15, had minimal adult supervision, which led to some dangerous situations.
11 years Divad Miles burned when hot grease splattered onto her face while cooking Nation of Children (the children had to cook their own food during the social experiment). his mother, Janice Milesfiled a complaint in 2007 asking for an investigation into child abuse, neglect and danger. Santa Fe authorities investigated the allegations but found no criminal activity, the New York Times reported at the time.
Several children from the show also required medical attention after accidentally drinking bleach left in an unmarked soda bottle.
though Gene MaynardExecutive Vice President for Alternative Programming at CBS, said in an August 2007 interview that the company felt “very comfortable” Nation of Children was “suitable from a legal point of view,” the show only lasted one season and had a complicated legacy. This is the subject of the second episode of the VICE documentary 2024 The dark side of Reality TV. During the episode, Jimmy Flynnthe youngest of the contestants, stating that the camera operator will smile with amusement when the children become physically violent with each other, not trying to intervene.
‘Dance on Ice’
The British television series, which aired on ITV in 2006 and is still airing today after a hiatus from 2014-2018, is actually Dance With The Stars in the ice. The risk of amateurs paired with pro skating is demonstrated when media personalities Rebekah Vardy cut off his partner Andy Buchananface with her skates during training for season 13 in 2021.
“The back of my heel and my blade sliced ​​his face,” Vardy said Sun at the time, noted that Buchanan was “doing well” even though the incident was “pretty scary.”
Actress Jennifer Ellison hit his own head with a skate during season 7 in 2012 when he tried to kick a scorpion. He finished his act before leaving the arena to seek medical attention with blood pouring from his head.
“I felt like I was hit with a brick. I thought my head was going to stop, to be honest, it was so strong,” Ellison said of the accident when he appeared on the talk show in 2012. it’s noon. “The blade really cut my hair. The blade was sharp. My hair was like someone cutting it with a knife or scissors. I lost a lot of hair.”
Despite the “shock,” Ellison noted that she was “really good and I’m hooked.”
‘survived’
The beloved CBS reality series may look tame in comparison Alone or Naked and Scaredbut the contestants were hurt. In addition to physical competition and social strategies, the participants live in remote locations and eat a lot of fruit and fish. So far, 19 castaways have been removed from the show for medical reasons.
A famous example includes season 32 Neal Gottliebwho was forced to leave the competition after developing a staph infection in his back and legs, and the 34th season Caleb Reynoldswho was medically evacuated after suffering heat stroke.
Reynolds said people in 2016 the body reached a temperature of 107 degrees during heat stroke.
“I didn’t respond. I only responded once in 20 minutes. They lifted my eyelids and my eyes were rolled into the back of my head. It seemed to only get worse, so they pulled me from the game,” he said. “I was in the ICU for five days.”
‘Wudd and Fear’
Perhaps it should come as no surprise that a show that sends contestants into the wilderness in birthday suits with only one survival item of their choice will produce some crazy medical crises. Season 7 of Naked and Fear XLThe spinoff that extended the experience from 21 days to 40 days, produced one of the most severe injuries in the history of the Discovery Channel show.
After the contestants EJ Snyder falling from a tree branch into the swamp, he suffered severe lacerations on his scrotum. The show’s medical staff advised him that if he stayed in the game, he risked a life-threatening infection and lost his genitalia. Despite the danger, Snyder remained in the competition after receiving eight stitches.
Infection is a serious concern Naked and Fear XLas a season 3 contestant Matt Wrigt know everything very well. During the 2017 season, Wright was medically evacuated after his foot became infected with flesh-eating bacteria.
‘jump’
Similar to Dancing on Icethe danger of The Livewhich aired on ITV from 2014 to 2017, came from the lack of experience of the contestants; The stars trying to master winter sports including bob sledding and cross skiing lead to some pretty gnarly accidents.
Former Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle was taken to the hospital after suffering two fractured vertebrae while training for a ski jump in Austria in 2016. He required spinal cord surgery to fuse the two vertebrae, which was successful.
Actress Tina Hobley was also injured in the event in 2016 after falling during a practice jump.
“I had three major traumas,” Hobley said Hello! from an accident in 2016. “My elbow was out of socket and my arm was broken in two places; I tore the rotator cuff in my shoulder – a common rugby injury that ended my career – and I had a complete rupture of the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in my knee.
‘alone’
Season 8 Alone contestant Colter Barnes was medically evacuated after losing 86 kilograms in 67 days living in the area on the shores of Lake Chilko.
Lack of food is not the only threat to contestants on the History channel show. Season 7 Callie Russell removed from the competition due to frostbitten toes and season 2 Kate Green must stop after cutting the arm with an ax while cutting firewood.
Since Survivor premiered in 2000, several cast members have had medical evacuations and some scary injuries. Michael Skupin was the first contestant to be removed from the game during Survivor: The Australian Outback in 2001. On the 17th day, the software publisher fell into a fire, which caused him severe pain (…)
‘splash’
On urinewhich aired on CBS for one season in 2013, celebrity contestants performed extreme high-dives. In just eight episodes, several participants suffered injuries from dangerous sports.
Pro skier Rory Bushfield broken ears, Drake Bell suffered a black eye after hitting the water face-first and the model Katherine Webb pulled out of the event after experiencing pain from the middle of his back to his legs.
“For some days, he couldn’t get out of bed by himself,” his mother, Katherine, Leslie Webbto the Ledger-Enquirer from injury in time.
The show’s production company, Eyeworks USA, said in a 2013 statement to Fox News that “safety” was its “No. 1 priority” for urine.
“We work with top coaches and trainers, including legendary ones Greg Louganis and the USA Diving organization. Diving is a serious and demanding sport, as shown in the show every week,” the statement said. “All contestants have been given the best possible medical evaluation and treatment. We applaud your strong commitment to training and the efforts you have shown to overcome the challenges of diving.
