‘Medic!’: Survivor star Sam passes out mid-challenge

One of Survivor’s toughest contestants dramatically passed out in a gruelling challenge on Tuesday’s episode, as medics rushed to her aid.

One of Survivor’s toughest competitors suffered a dramatic collapse during a gruelling physical challenge in Tuesday’s episode of the show.

The challenge required contestants to stand on narrow pegs while attempting to balance a ball against an overhanging frame. If the ball dropped, they were eliminated.

An uncomfortable challenge – even for endurance athlete Sam (centre).

The first few contestants dropped out quickly – but as the challenge wore on and the pain became more intense, those who did drop out needed to be helped down by host Jonathan LaPaglia.

Soon it was a showdown between former MasterChef contestant Khanh Ong and professional endurance athlete Sam Gash – and Sam resorted to pleading with her tribemate to “let her have” the win. Khanh told her he wanted to make it to the one-hour mark in the challenge, and instead promised to keep her safe if she let him win.

Sam falls into JLP’s arms.

She agreed – and instantly fell into LaPaglia’s arms with a scream of pain.

Moments later, Sam fainted completely, her body falling limp as husband Mark Wales laid her flat on the ground amid calls for a medic.

Sam goes limp as husband Mark Wales tries to help her.

Answer: In the middle of nowhere.

Thankfully, it was a brief scare: Sam’s blood pressure soon returned to normal and she was able to walk away from the challenge feeling “fine”.

Her dramatic collapse is the latest medical incident in a season that’s been plagued by injury, even by Survivor standards: First, contestant Alex Frost injured his back on the way to an early challenge, later begging his tribemates to vote him out of the game before LaPaglia informed him he didn’t need anyone’s permission to leave. He decided the pain was too great and quit then and there, walking out of tribal council before voting had begun.

Sam was the latest in a string of Survivor contestants to require medical attention this season.

Ex-NRL player Croc briefly needed medical attention after another water-based physical challenge left him exhausted and struggling to breathe.

And earlier this week, one of the game’s most promising contestants was forced to quit after suffering a fracture to her ankle during a tough physical challenge.

“I can’t decide if this is worse than being blindsided,” a tearful Nina Twine said when LaPaglia informed her there was no way she could continue in the game without risking worsening her injury.

“It’s just frustrating that this is how I have to go out.”

Australian Survivor continues 7.30pm Sunday on Ten.