Alone is a reality TV show that depicts the lives of brave, risk-taking participants who are sent to the wilderness for a 100-day survival mission.
These participants must strive to stay alive as they struggle with solitude, harsh weather conditions, dangerous wildlife, and hostile environments with only 10 basic equipment.
The award for a successful survival ranges between $500,000 and $1 million.
The series is a continuing show that was first released on June 18, 2015, and is currently in its 10th season.
Contestants are dropped far apart from each other to ensure there is no physical contact.
Given the nature of the adventure, each participant is thoroughly assessed beforehand.
To qualify, one must have experience living under harsh to hostile conditions, and be in a good state both health-wise and mentally.
The only contact with another human the contestants get is during their weekly health checkups with the medical team.
You may be wondering, since the mission is a risky one, do the unpaid participants get injured or harmed in the show?
Though most contestants push through to the end, others have sustained minor to severe injuries.
Here are 6 cases where participants were severely injured:
1. Shannon Bosdell
Shannon was a season 4 contestant. He tripped on a log and fell while walking, injuring his spine.
He was in severe pain for weeks, and so had to be eliminated from the competition, which spared him from a permanent effect on the spine.
After evacuation, Shannon received medical care and was able to make a full recovery.
2. Zachary Gault
Zach was a cast in the third season of Alone.
While on his way to hunt for food, he was making way by cutting shrubs when he suddenly fell to the ground.
He sustained a serious cut on his hand during his fall.
Like Shannon, Zach tried to push through in the competition with his eye on the grand prize.
He treated the wound using medication, bandages, and cotton in vain.
The wound became more severe and the pain unbearable, and so he called for an evacuation.
3. Mary Kate Green
Mary Kate, a fitness instructor and mother of two, was a season two cast on the TV show.
On her 7th day into the challenge, Mary Kate lit a fire using a lighter provided in the survival kit.
But while she was attempting to chop firewood to add to her fire using a 26-inch axe, she accidentally cut a tendon in her hand.
She tried to cater to the wound on her own, but the pain was too much so she called the medical crew.
After evacuation, Mary Kate was taken to a clinic and the wound was cleaned and dressed.
What had appeared a minor injury turned out to be far worse.
4. Callie Russell
Callie was in the 7th season of Alone, and she managed to survive for 89 days.
The participants had been sent to Canada’s Great Slave Lake where weather conditions are severe.
Color suffered from frostbite on her toes.
She tried to push through despite her pain, but the medical crew decided that she had to go home, something that was hard on her.
After evacuation, Callie was taken to the hospital, and luckily her toes healed.
But later on, Callie disclosed that nerve damage was permanent, meaning her toes will always be sensitive to cold and more susceptible to frostbite.
5. Carleigh Fairchild
Carleigh is a TV personality and survival couch.
She was in season 3 of Alone and had to leave the show after surviving for 86 days.
Carleigh was fishing for lunch at a river. After catching the fish, she reached out her hand to take it off the hook, but it slipped and the hook got in her hand.
Despite attempts to remove the hook herself, she was unsuccessful and the pain was persistent.
Using her GPS phone, she called the emergency crew and was rescued, therefore leaving the show.
6. Mike
Mike was among 11 contestants dropped off in the Canadian wilderness for the 100-day challenge. He was of British origin.
Having battled addiction in the past, Mike, 49, had high hopes of completing the challenge and making a fresh start.
However, 4 hours into the challenge, he sustained a serious injury while building his shelter.
Mike accidentally sliced his leg with an axe.
It came as a shock to Mike, who stated while being rescued, that he had worked with tools all his life.
He was evacuated in a chopper immediately and rushed to the hospital, which marked the end of his participation.
Others
There have also been other minor incidents where participants realized that they were surrounded by predators at night and several instances where a contestant was forced to leave the show due to excess weight loss.
But each participant is free to ‘tap out’ any minute if they feel incapable of continuing with the show using a GPS phone they receive before the drop-off.
