Theo Campbell, who appeared in “The Challenge,” is speaking out about a freak accident that left him partially blind in one eye and sharing a warning ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Theo Campbell’s Horrific Injury
In an interview with People on December 30, ahead of New Year’s Eve, Campbell revealed how a cork from a champagne bottle hit him in the eye in a 2019 incident. The accident happened during a champagne-spraying party at a beach club in Ibiza, Spain, and the reality TV star wants to raise awareness of how dangerous popping bottles can be.
“Not everyone knows how to pop a bottle of champagne safely. Most people will pop it up in the air, and some people will shake the bottle with their thumb on it so the cork will start to come out easier,” he told People. “This girl was shaking it, and the cork wasn’t flying off, so she put it under her arm. That totally changed the angle. I’m turning around as this girl pops the bottle, and she hits me with the cork in the right eye.”
He was terribly unfortunate that the cork hit him. “It was a one-in-a-10-million chance,” he said. “I was walking past at the exact wrong time.”
In his interview with People, Campbell recalled the moments after his injury and how he had blood in his hand and was surprised that he was not in excruciating pain. “It wasn’t like the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. It was like getting punched in the eye,” he said.
He was taken to the hospital and required emergency surgery. “They did a seven-hour surgery, and I woke up in a hospital bed by myself, not knowing if I had an eyeball or not. I get up and go to the mirror, take off my bandage, and I was like, ‘Oh, my eyeball’s there.’”
Campbell told People, “If you ever pop a bottle of champagne, do it up in the air. Better to get a little hole in the ceiling than a hole in someone’s eye socket,” he stresses. “And if you’re not the one popping it and you are in the room while someone else is popping it, just watch where they’re aiming that bottle or let them know to pop it upwards. … Hopefully it saves a couple other people losing their eye.”
Fans Show Support for Theo Campbell
Campbell shared photos of his injury on Instagram. He also posted a video update about one of his multiple eye surgeries on May 4, 2022. In the caption, he wrote, “Little eye update on the surgery I had yesterday. 2 stitches left. Out of the original 14 I’ve had. Thanks for all the messages you guys have sent, always appreciated.”
Fans flooded the comment section with messages of support. “Watch you on the challenge bro you were a beast. Glad to see an update, and it’s going good. Hope your vision comes back,” a comment reads.
“Bless you!! wishing you a speedy recovery Theo,” another fan shared.
Other reactions include, “I have always warned friends of the dangers of popping champagne bottles after many years ago reading a study. Hope you have a speedy recovery,” and “So sorry this happened to you. I actually think you’re a lovely guy with a huge heart and just straight up genuine and down to earth.”
