Who died on 'Naked and Afraid' franchise? Near-death situations that took Discovery Channel viewers by surprise
ORIBI GORGE, SOUTH AFRICA: 'Naked and Afraid' stands out as one of the most intense survival shows on television. Imagine being forced to fend for yourself in the wild, completely naked. Contestants battle hunger, thirst, and exposure without any clothing or shelter.
It's a precarious situation, and there have been moments where fans feared certain cast members wouldn't make it. This raises the question: Has anyone ever died on 'Naked and Afraid'?
Our investigation revealed that while there have been a few close calls and even a staged death, there has never been a recorded instance of anyone dying on 'Naked and Afraid'.
Fortunately, no contestant has lost their life during the production or filming of the intense reality show. However, it's worth noting that a former 'Naked and Afraid' competitor died in 2022, unrelated to the show's filming.
Melanie Rauscher, a former cast member of 'Naked and Afraid' and 'Naked and Afraid XL', died in 2022. Her last appearance on the show was in 2015, and her death occurred unrelated to any ongoing filming.
According to TMZ, the 35-year-old died in Arizona after inhaling a fatal amount of compressed air. Her autopsy determined the cause of death as difluoroethane poisoning, commonly associated with huffing. Jeremy McCaa, a former participant on the show, paid tribute to Melanie upon hearing the news of her death. On Facebook, he wrote, "She was a beast of a woman that couldn’t be tamed and thought outside of the box."
'Naked and Afraid's Manu Toigo contracted dengue illness but recovered well
Manu Toigo contracted hemorrhagic fever as a complication of severe dengue fever. After filming concluded, she returned to Los Angeles from Panama, where she was based for the show's production.
At that point, she realized she had contracted dengue fever from a mosquito bite and was suffering from excruciating headaches and nosebleeds. Fortunately, she made a full recovery.
Samantha Ohl almost died of hypothermia on 'Naked and Afraid'
In Season 8, Samantha Ohl suffered from hypothermia due to a rapid drop in body temperature, exacerbated by her refusal to share body heat with her companion during a downpour. Her condition was further complicated by severe starvation.
After her partner called for an ambulance, doctors were concerned about Samantha's condition as she was suffering from stage 2 hypothermia, with her organs at risk of failing. Fortunately, she recovered well during her hospital stay. Samantha still regrets not being able to complete the challenge.
'Naked and Afraid' producer Steve Rankin suffered a snakebite
Even before the official start of the show in 2013, 'Naked and Afraid' encountered perhaps its most perilous incident to date. During a visit to the filming locations in Costa Rica, producer Steve Rankin was bitten by a pit viper.
Despite suffering from a serious foot injury, he was promptly sent to the hospital to prevent the venom from spreading. Thankfully, he made a full recovery.
Honora Bowen staged her death in 'Naked and Afraid'
Contestant Honora Bowen allegedly came close to death in Season 3, but it was later revealed that she had staged her illness to leave the show. Initially citing bladder issues as the reason, she reportedly requested to quit, but the producers convinced her to stay.
To avoid being hospitalized, Honora ultimately feigned a catatonic state. She claimed to have low blood pressure and was on the brink of passing out. To put it mildly, it was easy to stage her death.
As a precaution, the show employs additional safety measures, including having fully dressed medics on-site in case of emergencies.
'Naked And Afraid: Last One Standing' Season 2 will air on Discovery Channel on July 14, 2024. New episodes will run on Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT.