Reggie Bird reveals brutal toll of Big Brother challenges

Reggie Bird has taken part in the physical Big Brother challenges despite being legally blind - and it took a brutal toll on her body, from whiplash to torn muscles.

Reggie Bird has revealed she suffered a string of injuries during the “brutal” physical challenges on Big Brother.

Bird, who is legally blind and has no peripheral or night vision, said she could barely walk during her time in the house after tearing both quad muscles on the high slide challenge while she also sustained whiplash after falling back during another challenge.

Because of her vision, Bird didn’t realise she had fallen and often couldn’t see the ground or what was around her.

Former Big Brother winner Reggie Bird returned for the 2022 season. Photo: Nigel Wrighyt/Supplied

“Up on that slide I knew we were up high and I was just so scared to let go,” she said. “Dave (Graham) ended up carrying me off.”

She said while she didn’t expect Big Brother producers to alter the challenges to suit her, she would have liked to compete in “at least one that wasn’t so physical”.

“The challenges were brutal, just for a normal abled person let alone someone with a disability,” she said. “They were full on. Every time I’d walk into the yard or the basement my heart would just sink.”

She received help from the medical and physiotherapy team during filming as well as back home on the Gold Coast.

“I could hardly walk,” she said. “I’ve been having a lot of physiotherapy; it’s taken months, a very long time to get back on track.”

Reggie has taken part in the physical challenges on the show. Photo: Nigel Wright/ Supplied

After winning the reality show in 2003, Bird moved to Queensland for love, marrying Dale Sorensen – whom she has since separated from – in 2007 and welcoming two children, Mia, 15, and Lucas, 12.

She was diagnosed with rare and hereditary degenerative eye condition retinitis pigmentosa, which will eventually see her lose her sight completely, while Lucas was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

Now a single mother, Bird hoped to raise awareness about disabilities, saying she was still being trolled online with claims she’s faking her disease.

“I’m like, fair dinkum, I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” she said. “When I’m in crowded places or I’m at the shops, I have to use my cane. That’s my eyes. A lot of people don’t pay attention to that. I’ve run out of the shopping centre crying many times because I’ve banged into someone and then I get abused.”

Reggie hoped to raise awareness about disability on the show. Photo: Nigel Wright/ Supplied

“I just get out there and keep living life and I don’t take anything for granted because I am going to wake up one day and it’s going to be all gone.”

With her rental unit on the Gold Coast being sold, Bird, who is now in the final five on Big Brother, said the $250,000 prize money would be life changing.

“You’ve got that horrible feeling of what’s going to happen next. I don’t want that feeling in my stomach anymore; it’s awful,” she said.

“I went on Big Brother to do this for my kids. Everything I did in that house was for them.”

Big Brother airs on Sunday at 8pm on Channel 7, with the finale airing on Tuesday when Australia can vote for their 2022 winner.