“Survivor” host Jeff Probst has opened up about the behind-the-scenes moments that led to one player being evacuated from the game following an “unprecedented medical emergency” during Wednesday’s third episode of Season 49. Be warned! This article contains spoilers for “Survivor 49” Episode 3 “Loveable Losers” – Read on at your own risk!
On the most recent episode of “Survivor 49” castaway Jake Latimer, a 39-year-old correctional officer from Canada, became the third player to leave the island. While Latimer’s Kele tribe had been on course to celebrate a historic losing streak, it was not a blindside that took Jake out of the game, but instead, the bite of a venomous banded sea krait.
According to longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst, the series’ on-location medical team took every precaution to ensure Latimer’s safety after sustaining the potentially life-threatening bite, including “air emergency transport” to the show’s very own medical center in Fiji.
Jeff Probst Goes Behind-the-Scenes of Jake’s Medical Evacuation
“The decision to show our medical center at basecamp was really a result of ‘form follows function,’” Probst told Gold Derby following Wednesday’s (Oct. 8) episode. “As we were assessing how best to tell the story of Jake’s snake bite, we made the decision that we wanted the audience to experience it the same way we did. That meant showing every step as it unfolded, including taking viewers inside production in a way we’ve never done in 25 years.”
Indeed, the episode gave fans a never-before-scene look at “Survivor”s medical building, where the show’s expert doctors and nurses not only worked tirelessly to ensure Jake’s safety, but also delivered the devastating news that his “Survivor” journey had come to an end through no fault of his own.
“What you saw is exactly what it felt like to be there,” Probst revealed. “It was dramatic, emotional, chaotic, and calm all at once. Our medical team is truly incredible. They took amazing care of Jake.” Probst added that, luckily, Latimer only sustained a “dry bite” from the sea krait, meaning that none of the snake’s venom actually entered his body.
According to Probst, he was called onto set just moments after Jake reported being bitten.
“I received a phone call moments after it happened and at that point there were still a lot of unanswered questions,” he revealed. “We didn’t know for sure if it was a snake bite and we didn’t know for sure what kind of snake.”
Probst continued: “We’re very lucky to have such an experienced team, because within a few minutes we had ascertained that it was a sea krait bite, and by then Jake was already on a boat heading to our medical facility at basecamp. It didn’t take long for Jake to arrive at our medical center and I arrived just after that. By then our executive team was already moving ahead by contacting the nearest hospital and scheduling an air emergency transport, both of which we ended up using.”
Jake’s Shocking Medevac Had a Surprising Silver Lining
While viewers weren’t shown Jake being transported to a local Fijian hospital after being assessed by “Survivor”s own medical team, they did see a doctor decide that his condition was too fragile and unpredictable to allow Latimer to re-join the game.
But the news isn’t all bad. Not only did Jake’s bite prove to be not life-threatening, but his early elimination also meant that the castaway was able to return home in time to witness the birth of his first-born son. Earlier in the season, Latimer revealed that his wife had gotten pregnant after he began the casting process for Season 49, but had encouraged him to try his hand at winning the million-dollar prize, even if it meant missing their child’s arrival.
CBSDespite being understandably devastated at being pulled from the season prematurely, Jake left his remaining Kele tribe members – Jeremiah Ing, Sophia “Sophi” Balerdi and Alex Moore – with a parting message of love and hopes that the trio would eventually become the Final 3 castaways of the season.
As viewers will know, the latter half of Jake’s final message was unfulfilled as, after losing their third consecutive immunity challenge, the Kele tribe returned to Tribal Council yet again on Wednesday’s episode.
Jeremiah later became the third player voted out of the game, and fourth to leave the game overall, all of whom started Season 49 on the Kele tribe.
The dramatic results of last night’s episode leaves just Alex and Sophi on the “disaster” Kele tribe, though a tribe swap has been confirmed to take place during next week’s episode.
“Survivor 49” returns on Wednesday, October 15 at 8:00pm ET on CBS.
In past shows when someone had to go home unable to finish no one else was voted off that week. Why was this show different ?
I agree, why was there a tribal when Kele already lost a member?
bring jake back on the next season