Don’t try this at home.
Some people watch reality TV to see strangers fall in love.love is blind, bachelor’s degree) or to support people chasing their dreams (voice, american idol) However, the genre can sometimes be extreme sports.
Shown as follows: naked and afraid and alone Participants are pushed to their limits as they attempt to survive in the wilderness with few supplies. on the other side us Watching from the couch, you might think the participants are never in mortal danger. After all, there is always a camera operator nearby. Right? — Survival shows can get downright dangerous.
“We have cameramen, sound people and producers, but they are not all together all day. “I have a diary cam left that I can film myself.” Kyla CummingsAppeared in several seasons naked and afraidsaid guardian 2023. “If something happens (hopefully I don’t pass out), I need to pick up my walkie-talkie and call the medic. But medical staff are usually 20 to 45 minutes away.”
Many things can go wrong if you are alone in the harsh wilderness. Surrounded by two lions in a flimsy shelter, “going into anaphylactic shock” after being bitten multiple times by ants, and fighting a highly venomous 15-foot black mamba snake with a bow and arrow are just some of the situations Cummings faces on the show.
Considering the significant risks, it may be difficult to believe the following results. naked and afraid exists. but Ian Dunkleyproducer alone“We’re not in the business of killing anybody,” said , who sends 10 men into the wilderness with limited equipment and tasks them with surviving as long as possible.
“Everyone who signed up for the series went in with their eyes open. They encounter what are known in the industry as ‘death stories’ and describe the worst that could happen,” Dunkley said. guardian. “You have a very thick stack of papers that basically say you are giving up your life.”
Survival shows aren’t the only examples of high-stakes reality TV. Keep scrolling to see the most dangerous reality shows of all time.
‘Kids Nation’
The short-lived CBS show had a seemingly sound premise. It was a group of children on a ranch in New Mexico who were tasked with creating a functioning government and society. However, the participants, aged between 8 and 15 years old, received minimal adult supervision, which led to dangerous situations.
11 years old Divard Miles While I was cooking, hot oil splashed on my face and I got burned. Kid Nation (During the social experiment, children had to prepare their own meals). her mother, Janice MilesIn 2007, a complaint was filed requesting an investigation into child abuse, neglect and endangerment. Santa Fe authorities investigated the allegations but found no criminal activity. new york times Reported at the time.
Several children on the show also required medical attention after accidentally drinking bleach that was left in an unmarked soda bottle.
but Gen MaynardCBS’ vice president of alternative programming, said in an August 2007 interview that he felt “very comfortable” with the company. Kid Nation The “appropriate from a legal standpoint” show only lasted one season and has a complicated legacy. This was the topic of episode 2 of the 2024 VICE docuseries. The dark side of reality TV. During the episode, Jimmy Flynnthe youngest of the participants, claimed that the camera operator did not attempt to intervene but smiled encouragingly when the children were physically violent with each other.
‘Dancing on ice’
The British TV series, which premiered on ITV in 2006 and is still airing today after a hiatus from 2014 to 2018, is essentially dancing with the stars On ice. The dangers of amateurs pairing up with skating pros were proven when media personalities were revealed. Rebecca Vardy cut off her partner Andy Buchanan‘s face while skating while training for season 13 in 2021.
“My heel and the blade of the knife hit him in the face,” Vardy said. sun Although the incident was “very scary” at the time, Buchanan noted that he was “fine.”
actress Jennifer Ellison In Season 7 in 2012, he hit his head with a skate while attempting a scorpion kick. She finished her day before leaving the rink to receive treatment for blood pouring from her head.
“I felt like I had been hit with a brick. “I thought my head was going to fall off, but honestly, it was that strong,” Ellison said of the accident during a 2012 talk show appearance. dawn. “The blade actually cut my hair. The blade is that sharp. My hair looks like someone cut it with a knife or scissors. “I lost a lot of hair.”
Ellison said that despite being “in shock,” he was “totally fine and I stuck together.”
‘survivor’
The beloved CBS reality series may seem cushy compared to other shows. alone or naked and afraidBut participants get injured. In addition to physical competition and social strategies, participants live in remote areas where they feed primarily on fruit and fish. To date, 19 castaways have been removed from the show for medical reasons.
A notable example is season 32. Neil Gottliebwas forced to leave the competition after season 34 after developing multiple staph infections on his back and legs. Caleb ReynoldsHe suffered from heatstroke and was medically evacuated.
Reynolds said people In 2016, his body temperature reached 107 degrees due to heat stroke.
“I had no reaction. I only responded once in 20 minutes. They lifted my eyelids and my eyes rolled to the back of my head. “I was kicked out of the game because my condition seemed to be getting worse,” he recalled. “I was in the intensive care unit for five days.”
‘Nakedness and fear’
Perhaps it’s no surprise that a show that sends contestants into the wilderness in their birthday suits with one survival item of their choice would result in some crazy medical crises. season 7 XL naked and afraida spinoff that extended the experience from 21 to 40 days, resulting in one of the most serious injuries in the history of the Discovery Channel show.
After participant EJ Snyder He fell from a tree branch into a swamp and suffered a severe injury to his scrotum. The show’s medical team advised him that he risked potentially life-threatening infections and loss of his penis if he remained in the game. Despite the warning, Snyder competed, even after receiving eight stitches.
I am seriously concerned about infection. XL naked and afraidAs a season 3 contestant mat ryeI don’t know too much. During the 2017 season, Wright was medically evacuated after his foot became infected with flesh-eating bacteria.
‘Jump’
similar dance on icedanger jumpwhich aired on ITV from 2014 to 2017, stemmed from the contestants’ lack of experience. Stars trying to master winter sports like bobsleigh and ski cross have resulted in some pretty gnarly accidents.
former Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle She was airlifted to hospital after fracturing two vertebrae while ski jumping training in Austria in 2016. She had to have spinal surgery to fuse two of her vertebrae, which was successful.
actress Tina Hobley At the 2016 show, she also suffered an injury after falling during a practice jump.
“I went through three major traumas,” Hobley said. hello! “My elbow came out of its socket and my arm was broken in two places. I tore my rotator cuff in my shoulder and completely tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a common injury that ends a rugby career. [anterior cruciate ligament] “On your knees.”
‘Alone’
season 8 alone curler colter barnes He was medically evacuated after losing 86 pounds during 67 days living on land on the shores of Lake Chilko.
Food shortages aren’t the only threat to contestants on the History Channel show. season 7 carly russell Due to frostbite toes and Season 2, he was removed from competition. kate green While chopping firewood, I cut my arm with an ax and had to quit.
‘fry’
to frywhich aired for one season on CBS in 2013, featured celebrity contestants diving from extreme heights. In just eight episodes, several contestants suffered injuries due to the dangerous nature of the sport.
professional skier Laurie Bushfield My eardrums burst. drake bell First, the model and the model with a black eye after hitting the water. katherine webb I quit the show after feeling pain from my back to my legs.
“For days she couldn’t get out of bed on her own,” Catherine’s mother said. Leslie Webbsaid ledger explorer Injury situation at the time.
Eyeworks USA, the show’s production company, said in a 2013 statement: fox news That “safe” was “no.” 1 priority” fry.
“We work closely with legendary trainers and coaches. Greg Louganis and the American Diving Organization. Diving is a serious and tough sport, as shown on the show each week,” the statement continued. “All participants received the best medical evaluation and treatment possible. We applaud their fierce dedication to training and the hard work they demonstrate in overcoming the challenges of diving.”