'Naked and Afraid: Alone': Gary Golding is covered in sores and an infection nearly costs him the challenge
So far on Discovery's 'Naked and Afraid: Alone', there had been a lack of food consistently, but in a first this season, there were bugs eating a survivor alive.
All-star survivalist and wildcard Gary Golding has almost every inch of his naked body covered in mosquito bites and an infection on his back which he fears is a botfly.
Botflies are parasites that are injected into the skin by mosquitoes. The larvae grow inside the skin, receiving nourishment from the host and then when they're ready, they wiggle out of the host and fly away. The infections are extremely painful, causing redness and swelling.
The infection, although not a botfly, had to be cut off from his body by a medic without any pain medication after its severity grew. If it had been allowed to stay, it could have given him gangrene.
"I can feel the pain breathing under my skin," he says to the camera after his back started to swell up. He also pointed out how the flies were eating his sores as the bugs were seen going inside the wounds on his body.
In his past runs on the franchise, he has had food poisoning and has attempted to eat maggots. The man is unstoppable and you can tell that from the way he chomps on tarantulas — legs, hairy bits and all.
This was by far one of the most authentic-looking episodes of the season, possibly because of Golding's enthusiasm to just make it in the wild. It's also very queasy if you're sitting at home watching him. Do not snack while watching this show — it just doesn't go down all that well.
Without a partner, Gary also forms a bond with a turtle he names Timmy and keeps wondering if he should eat him or keep him for a pet. Not surprising, since most contestants go a little crazy after the first few days alone in the wild, missing home and their loved ones.
Golding took on the jungle for the first time after conquering the arid areas in the franchise. Surrounded by forests all around, jaguars, crocodiles and other predators along with a host of small bugs that are almost impossible to fend off from (like the botfly or mosquitoes) he set off for his 21 days stay in Belize.
Eating his way through everything from fish to Cahoon nuts, munching on roasted tarantulas and fish as well as bird eggs, he made it through with a score of 9.8 out of 10.
Catch the next episode of 'Naked and Afraid: Alone' on Sunday at 10 pm EST on Discovery.
