With so many threats and obstacles all around, I know what you’re wondering: Have there been any deaths in Alone Season 9?
Despite the harsh conditions of Canada’s Labrador and the threat of polar bears, the production team of Alone Season 9 and the History Channel take strict measures to ensure the safety of all contestants.
I bet you have more queries about this season, and survival shows in general. So read on, I’ve covered all the bases:.
Every year, Alone takes place in a part of the world that is subjected to supremely harsh conditions, including extremely difficult terrain, snowy weather, and expected low temperatures. Season 9 of the show was filmed in Labrador, a province located in northern Canada’s Newfoundland, where these challenging conditions were encountered.
During the filming season, contestants were warned that polar bears, which are also known for hibernating during the winter, would be prowling around as they needed to hunt before hibernation. Additionally, other wild animals posed threats as well. As previously mentioned, Labrador was also known for its polar bears.
According to Juan Pablo Quiñonez, the winner of Season 9 who lasted for 78 days, one of the most challenging aspects of the show is that participants are not allowed to depart from their assigned region, as mentioned to TV Insider.
Each dropped contestant is given a different level of difficulty, which others do not have. Some contestants are lucky to be dropped near natural amenities or a river, while others are simply dropped in an undisclosed area without any prior knowledge. You may recall this as contestants being dropped in an undisclosed area without any prior knowledge.
Has anyone died in Alone? Have there been accidents?
Up to this point, no participant has lost their life. It can be confidently stated that Alone has never experienced or portrayed any deadly occurrences, as the History Channel would not endorse a program that includes fatalities.
On Alone, if the participants face any form of physical, psychological, or emotional danger, they are promptly eliminated. Fortunately, there haven’t been any significant mishaps.
Carleigh Fairchild, who had spent 86 days in the South American Andes Mountains, was forced to evacuate due to her deteriorating eyesight and permanent damage to her nervous and digestive system. This was a result of her low BMI, which she could not have suffered from if she had not been on Season 3.
How does Alone ensure the safety of its contestants?
The immediate cancellation of the show would be extremely bad as a result, as any fatal accidents would be a first demonstration of the contestants’ safety being the top priority, as executive producer Shaun Witt told Blurred Lines Alone.
When we began this production, our foremost concern was always the well-being of all individuals involved, with the performance being a secondary concern.
Shaun Witt
The contestants are always being geo-monitored while their inspection footage is also being recorded, without any direct interaction with the production crew or film.
The contestants who have a BMI below 17 or any major injuries are promptly removed from the show and are “forced evacuated”. Additionally, starting from the 45-day mark, they undergo regular checkups every 2-3 days or sometimes every week. In the beginning, the contestants go through a checkup. It is worth noting that the show strictly adheres to an important medical safety checkup rule.
Has anyone died on other survival shows?
Caution – Suicide.
Unfortunately, there have been instances of fatalities in other survival shows such as Survivor, the Bulgarian adaptation of Survivor, and Dropped. Additionally, it is tragic to note that a participant in the Swedish survival show, Expedition: Robinson, took their own life.
Hopefully, the few shows that were canceled immediately serve as a lesson to take survival seriously, showing the fatality.
I. The Impact of Survival Shows on Contestants
Caution – Suicide.
Some survival shows, like Survival Alone, test not only the physical ability of contestants to cope with harsh environments but also their mental and emotional willpower, as serious mental illnesses can force some contestants to leave.
David McIntyre wrote a post on Reddit’s QnA, discussing how these simple medical checks can bring out a lot of emotion. In his post, he emphasized that this is especially true for the crew who conducts the short medical checks, as they have no contact with the contestants, making it even more important for a show titled Alone.
I initially thought the med-checks were like reminders, but it’s not enough interaction and it doesn’t leave me with a sense of urgency to show up. ‘People! I would like to see them’ quickly turned into ‘I miss it so much!’
David McIntyre
In a conversation with Global News, former Alone champion Ted Baird compares it to preparing for the Olympics.
Your mental memory requires training and exercise to the same, if not greater extent, than your physical body. Both mental and physical disciplines are crucial, and I would compare it to the preparation of an individual for the Olympics or a triathlon.
Ted Baird
Similarly, in future seasons of survival shows, contestants may encounter challenging situations that can contribute to their mental and physical well-being, highlighting the significance of stress management techniques and the importance of exercises for breathing. Quiñonez, the winner of Season 9, understands these stresses firsthand.
About Alone
Alone on History is an American survival competition series that follows the daily struggles of 10 individuals attempting the challenge of surviving alone in the wilderness with a limited amount of equipment.
The contestant who remains standing last wins the grand prize of $500,000. The seasons of the show have been filmed across a range of remote locations such as Lake Chilko in British Columbia’s interior, Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, Northern Mongolia, Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentine Patagonia, and northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia.