In a shocking moment during last night’s episode of Australian Survivor, contestant Ross Clarke-Jones was horrifically injured after a rope he was swinging on broke.
The big wave surfer was sent hurtling towards the edge of a wooden deck, causing him to hit his leg and snap his ankle.
WATCH: Ross Clarke Jones’ wipeout leaves him horrifically injured on Australian Survivor
Throughout the challenge, each contestant was required to rope-swing across from one platform to another.
While his tribemates made it across, the rope broke during Ross’s swing, sending him plummeting to the ground below.
The 53-year-old could be seen laying on the floor after his fall as a medical team rushed on set.
“The rope just broke!” Ross cried out in pain as the medics treated him.
The medical team deemed the injury serious and could be heard saying:
“The injury is serious enough that we need to take him off.”
Not wanting to leave the show so soon, the contestant insisted that he was fine.
“I’m good I’m good. Just stretched something,” Ross adamantly said.
However, his tribemates couldn’t deny that the surfer was severely injured and speculated about whether he would be able to return to the competition.
“He was in a lot of pain … a LOT of pain,” said a concerned Janine Allis.
Host Jonathan LaPaglia stated:
“Due to what happened in the challenge today, Ross has sustained a broken ankle. And the medical team has advised that he cannot continue in the game. The good news in all that is that there is no tribal council and tonight no one is going home.”
Later, Ross hobbled back on set in crutches to bid his team farewell as it was sadly confirmed that he would have to leave Australian Survivor.
The contestant told TV Week that the seriousness of the injury was only made clear after the episode aired.
“I’ve been to a couple of physio appointments, I’ve had an operation. It’s a long road ahead still, I won’t be surfing for another four to six months. This is the hardest thing to do, surfing is my livelihood so I can’t do anything, it’s horrible,” he said.
Ross was a season favourite for Australian Survivor 2019, and his exit prompted fans to tweet their dismay.
One fan was convinced that Australian Survivor‘s props specialists were at fault, tweeting:
“If you watch the replay of Ross’ accident, it happens because the rope he swings on either breaks or comes untied. Completely not the fault of Ross but the fault of the people setting up challenge. Poor Rosco was ripped off!”
Despite his unfortunate exist, Ross waved goodbye to the Channel Ten show with a smile.
“I’ve done some of the most physically demanding things in the world, surfing 80ft waves, but this Survivor experience is another level,” he told news.com.au.
Australian Survivor airs 7:30 pm Sundays to Tuesdays on Ten.
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