In the game of “Survivor,” the goal is to outwit, outplay and outlast the competition, but sometimes real-life troubles get in the way that lead to dramatic medical evacuations. As of this writing, a whopping 19 castaways have been removed due to health emergencies — 18 men and only one woman (Kourtney Moon). Tour our photos above (or click here for direct access) to see all of the “Survivor” medevacs/medical evacuations throughout the show’s run. Which ones were the scariest to watch on TV? Which ones do you remember vividly?
Michael Skupin (Season 2: The Australian Outback)
In episode 6, “Trial by Fire,” Skupin fell face-first into the campfire after taking in too much smoke. With skin hanging from his badly burnt hands, he was flown out of the Outback by helicopter as the show’s first ever medevac.
Bruce Kanegai (Season 12: Panama)
In episode 11, “Medical Emergency,” Bruce was taken out...
Michael Skupin (Season 2: The Australian Outback)
In episode 6, “Trial by Fire,” Skupin fell face-first into the campfire after taking in too much smoke. With skin hanging from his badly burnt hands, he was flown out of the Outback by helicopter as the show’s first ever medevac.
Bruce Kanegai (Season 12: Panama)
In episode 11, “Medical Emergency,” Bruce was taken out...
- 3/14/2024
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
In the game of “Survivor,” the goal is to outwit, outplay and outlast the competition, but sometimes real-life troubles get in the way that lead to dramatic medical evacuations. As of this writing, a whopping 19 castaways have been removed due to health emergencies — 18 men and only one woman (Kourtney Moon). Tour our photos below to see all of the “Survivor” medevacs/medical evacuations throughout the show’s run. Which ones were the scariest to watch on TV? Which ones do you remember vividly? Gallery updated March 2024.
- 3/14/2024
- by John Benutty, Misty Holland and Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
“Survivor” players know that only one person can win the game, but it always stings to be the first one eliminated. The pain of being booted first from your season has to be a difficult one to get over, especially for those who really wanted to play the game. First boots are often targeted because of age or challenge performance or etiquette around camp, and it’s sad to see people’s torch be snuffed after only three days on the island. Some early vote-offs make such an impression, however, that they are remembered even today. Above you can scroll through our gallery (or click here for direct access) of 20 memorable “Survivor” first boots, listed in order of appearance. We hope they get another chance to play again one day.
Sonja Christopher
Season 1 — “Survivor: Borneo”
Having the distinction of being the first person to be voted out of “Survivor,” Sonja was a sweet,...
Sonja Christopher
Season 1 — “Survivor: Borneo”
Having the distinction of being the first person to be voted out of “Survivor,” Sonja was a sweet,...
- 4/26/2023
- by Marcus James Dixon and Christopher Tsang
- Gold Derby
“Survivor” players know that only one person can win the game, but it always stings to be the first one eliminated. The pain of being booted first from your season has to be a difficult one to get over, especially for those who really wanted to play the game. First boots are often targeted because of age or challenge performance or etiquette around camp and it’s sad to see people’s torch be snuffed after only three days on the island. Some early boots make such an impression, however, that they are remembered even today. Above you can scroll through our ranked gallery of memorable first boots we hope get another chance to play “Survivor” again.
See ‘Survivor 40’ advantages: Who currently has immunity idols, fire tokens in ‘Winners at War’?
The first people voted out of each season typically have outsized personalities and are naturally booted because they don...
See ‘Survivor 40’ advantages: Who currently has immunity idols, fire tokens in ‘Winners at War’?
The first people voted out of each season typically have outsized personalities and are naturally booted because they don...
- 4/11/2020
- by Kevin Jacobsen
- Gold Derby
In the game of “Survivor,” the goal is to outwit, outplay and outlast the competition, but sometimes real-life troubles get in the way that lead to dramatic medical evacuations. As of this writing, a whopping 15 castaways have been medevaced by host Jeff Probst and the medical teams due to emergencies — 14 men and only 1 woman (Kourtney Moon). Need a refresher on the show’s evacuees through the years? Click through our photo gallery above highlighting all of the medevacs on “Survivor.”
See‘Survivor’ Season 37 premiere ends with a shocker that leaves the David tribe in tears
While the first season (“Borneo”) went off without a hitch in 2000, the much anticipated sequel (“The Australian Outback”) in 2001 wasn’t so lucky. In the sixth episode Michael Skupin fell face-first into the campfire after taking in too much smoke. Cameras didn’t actually capture the moment he fell in the flames, but the after-effects...
See‘Survivor’ Season 37 premiere ends with a shocker that leaves the David tribe in tears
While the first season (“Borneo”) went off without a hitch in 2000, the much anticipated sequel (“The Australian Outback”) in 2001 wasn’t so lucky. In the sixth episode Michael Skupin fell face-first into the campfire after taking in too much smoke. Cameras didn’t actually capture the moment he fell in the flames, but the after-effects...
- 10/16/2018
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The premiere episode of Season 37 of “Survivor” started with a lot of touchy-feely moments and the usual grousing about outsized personalities, thanks to its premise of pitting so-called Davids against Goliaths. But it ended up with an unexpected and rather harrowing twist when Pat Cusack, a member of the David tribe who took charge of building their shelter, was suddenly shown to be moaning in pain and clearly injured in the final moments of the show. He somehow hurt his back when his tribe returned to their camp after they lost the immunity challenge when their boat went through choppy water caused by a rainstorm.
The maintenance manager, 40, from upstate New York tied the record for the earliest medical evacuation in “Survivor” history. That mark was previously set by Kourtney Moon of “Survivor: One World” in 2011’s Season 24 when she was forced to leave on Day 3. Moon remains the first...
The maintenance manager, 40, from upstate New York tied the record for the earliest medical evacuation in “Survivor” history. That mark was previously set by Kourtney Moon of “Survivor: One World” in 2011’s Season 24 when she was forced to leave on Day 3. Moon remains the first...
- 9/27/2018
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Over the years, Survivor has had its share of medical evacuations. Sometimes, it was the contestant's own fault, like when Mike Skupin fell into a fire during 2001's Australian Outback. Sometimes, it was due to illness, like when Panama's Bruce Kanegai found himself severely constipated. Other times, the blame falls on the producers. In 2012, contestant Kourtney Moon broke her wrist during an ill-conceived challenge that had contestants jumping from a 25-ft. tower into a net. But no Survivor has been quite as brutal and chaotic as last week's episode, where contestants spent nearly an hour digging in hot sand for bags of balls.
- 3/16/2016
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- PEOPLE.com
Over the years, Survivor has had its share of medical evacuations.
Sometimes, it was the contestant's own fault, like when Mike Skupin fell into a fire during 2001's Australian Outback. Sometimes, it was due to illness, like when Panama's Bruce Kanegai found himself severely constipated.
Other times, the blame falls on the producers. In 2012, contestant Kourtney Moon broke her wrist during an ill-conceived challenge that had contestants jumping from a 25-ft. tower into a net.
But no Survivor has been quite as brutal and chaotic as last week's episode, where contestants spent nearly an hour digging in hot sand for bags of balls.
Sometimes, it was the contestant's own fault, like when Mike Skupin fell into a fire during 2001's Australian Outback. Sometimes, it was due to illness, like when Panama's Bruce Kanegai found himself severely constipated.
Other times, the blame falls on the producers. In 2012, contestant Kourtney Moon broke her wrist during an ill-conceived challenge that had contestants jumping from a 25-ft. tower into a net.
But no Survivor has been quite as brutal and chaotic as last week's episode, where contestants spent nearly an hour digging in hot sand for bags of balls.
- 3/14/2016
- by Steve Helling, @stevehelling
- People.com - TV Watch
The "Survivor: One World" reunion special is largely Colton-focused, which is annoying.
The first part of the reunion show is pretty firework-free. Even Leif and Troyzan are not seeming mad that Kim won (they were the two votes for Sabrina). Everyone seems to agree that Kim is a deserving winner. Which is true.
Colton's Shot at Redemption
But then. Colton time. He owns what he said and he says it made him uncomfortable. And he says he saw himself being a very, very mean person. Jeff presses him whether he's the racist bigot we saw on the show. His defense is that he would make out with Shemar Moore faster than any woman. Um, that doesn't make you not a racist dude. Notice how Bill was not laughing at that? Saying any kind of "I have a black friend" type thing does not make you not a racist.
The first part of the reunion show is pretty firework-free. Even Leif and Troyzan are not seeming mad that Kim won (they were the two votes for Sabrina). Everyone seems to agree that Kim is a deserving winner. Which is true.
Colton's Shot at Redemption
But then. Colton time. He owns what he said and he says it made him uncomfortable. And he says he saw himself being a very, very mean person. Jeff presses him whether he's the racist bigot we saw on the show. His defense is that he would make out with Shemar Moore faster than any woman. Um, that doesn't make you not a racist dude. Notice how Bill was not laughing at that? Saying any kind of "I have a black friend" type thing does not make you not a racist.
- 5/14/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
It's been a pretty dismal start to Survivor: One World for the girls, losing Kourtney to injury in the first week, and then eliminating oldest Tribe Member Nina after losing a second Immunity Challenge, not to mention the discontent with Kat seen last week. So, will this week be any better for them? Perhaps symbolically, the women arrive back at camp just as a massive storm arrives on the horizon, although they shun Colton's offer that the women come over and share the men's tarp. That might have been a bad move as the cold rain and wind begin hurtling through their camp and next morning they find themselves soaking wet and without fire. Time to call on the boys for some help. Can they go by the fire and warm up? Tarzan takes pity and says yes, although it's clear Matt isn't too happy about the new arrangement,...
- 3/1/2012
- by By Lara Martin
- Digital Spy
Because Kourtney Moon's elimination in Week 1 was an injury-based decision, on Wednesday (Feb. 22) night, the women of "Survivor: One World" were required to vote somebody out for the first time. The dysfunctional women of Salani, seemingly incapable of winning any kind of challenge, faced a choice: Either vote out giggling, farting, sheltered Kat, who almost single-handedly cost them the episode's Immunity Challenge, or Nina, 51-year-old former police officer whose exact skills within the game had yet to be tested. In the end, it apparently wasn't a hard decision. Kat had been part of a majority alliance of...
- 2/25/2012
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
So, last week's Survivor premiere saw poor Kourtney forced to exit the competition early after sustaining an injury during the immunity challenge, and that meant that no-one on the all-female Salani Tribe was sent home at Tribal Council. Manono Tribe's Colton also secured the game's first Immunity Idol courtesy of Sabrina who found it but had to hand it over to the other side. So who will go home this week? We open back at camp after Tribal Council where Alicia and Christina are apparently making amends following their bickering in front of Jeff. They both apologize, shake hands and go their separate ways... But, unknown to Christina, it seems Alicia really isn't that sorry after all. "If I saw her swimming in the ocean and she was drowning I'd probably look the other way," she says privately. However, despite that, it seems she has her eye (more)...
- 2/23/2012
- by By Lara Martin
- Digital Spy
When we last left our intrepid castaways on "Survivor: One World," a girl went home after breaking her wrist. Let's hope that kind of excitement keeps up.
Post Tribal
The guys naturally want to know what happened to Kourtney. One of the Frat Boys (seriously, I probably won't be able to tell them apart for weeks) thinks that's "annoying" the women didn't have to vote anybody out. Jerkface.
Alicia, the loud-mouth crazy person, thinks Tribal couldn't have gone better because she thinks Christina looked crazy. It's a good thing there are no mirrors to hold up out there in the bush. Christina tries to patch things up with Alicia and Alicia says they're good, but privately she says she'd let Christina drown in the ocean and that Nina "looks like a bag of rocks," even though Alicia doesn't "even know what that analogy means," which so perfectly encapsulates her as a person.
Post Tribal
The guys naturally want to know what happened to Kourtney. One of the Frat Boys (seriously, I probably won't be able to tell them apart for weeks) thinks that's "annoying" the women didn't have to vote anybody out. Jerkface.
Alicia, the loud-mouth crazy person, thinks Tribal couldn't have gone better because she thinks Christina looked crazy. It's a good thing there are no mirrors to hold up out there in the bush. Christina tries to patch things up with Alicia and Alicia says they're good, but privately she says she'd let Christina drown in the ocean and that Nina "looks like a bag of rocks," even though Alicia doesn't "even know what that analogy means," which so perfectly encapsulates her as a person.
- 2/23/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Survivor 24,One World eliminated Nina Acosta in episode 2 tonight. Tonight's episode kicked off with more commentary footage. The ladies told the guys that Kourtney had to leave,because she broke her wrist,bad. Alicia and Christina had a fake,makeup session. Alicia said Nina should probably go next,because she looked like a bag of rocks,and they need to win challenges. After the break,the ladies fought more over who should do what. They also appointed Sabrina to be the leader. Then the two tribes were given a "do it yourself" Rewards challenge. In the challenge,the tribes had to untie a rope or something. The first tribe to do it,won. The guys ended up winning the challenge,which gave them a tarp as a reward. After that, the guys started complaining about gay Colton not doing anything around the camp,and hanging with the girls all the time.
- 2/23/2012
- by Andre
- OnTheFlix
Castaway Kourtney Moon seemed to have a lot of "Survivor: One World" potential. The 29-year-old motorcycle repairer had a personality-filled online bio, an easy engagement with the camera and an adorable knit-cap that appeared to resemble Shamu. Unfortunately, a misjudged fall in the season's opening Immunity Challenge left Kourtney heading off for X-rays that revealed either a broken wrist or arm. Either way, you don't return to "Survivor" with broken bones and the "One World" women were spared a difficult Tribal Council decision in Wednesday's (Feb.15) season opener. Chatting with Kourtney after her exit only confirmed my suspicion...
- 2/18/2012
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Survivor One World Kourtney Moon, found out she had cancer this week, days before the episode aired during which she was medically removed from the game after breaking her arm, an injury that she still has not recovered from. Talking from her hospital room on Rob Cesternino's podcast, Kourtney said she was doing "shitty, actually" because "I went for a typical wellness check-up on Monday" and "they found a large, grapefruit-sized tumor in my abdomen.
- 2/17/2012
- by Andy Dehnart
- Reality Blurred
She didn't even get to snuff her torch. After breaking her wrist during the first immunity challenge of Survivor: One World, Kourtney Moon, 29, was eliminated by default Wednesday - but not before a dramatic tribal council where her entirely female team imploded with drama. Moon, who is now home to Austin where she repairs motorcycles, spoke to People Thursday about healing her body and ego, the catty dynamics of her tribe mates and what it was like sharing a campsite with the men's tribe. Has your wrist completely healed? For the most part it did but it is not quite...
- 2/17/2012
- by Patrick Gomez
- PEOPLE.com
MTV News chats with 'Survivor' expert and former player Rob Cesternino about the controversial 'One World' season premiere.
By Josh Wigler
Kourtney Moon on "Survivor: One World"
Photo: CBS
The "Survivor: One World" season premiere presented longtime fans of the veteran reality series with a lot of firsts. In a brand new twist, all 18 competitors are living on the same beach from the very beginning, divided into two tribes based on gender. But that's not the only first: For the first time in "Survivor" history, the first contestant to leave the game was not voted out, but left due to a medical emergency. Kourtney Moon left the island after a nasty wrist-break in the opening immunity challenge — a challenge that the men subsequently won by default, by the way, after they were given the choice to claim victory early or continue competing against their Kourtney-less rivals.
Kourtney's medical evacuation and...
By Josh Wigler
Kourtney Moon on "Survivor: One World"
Photo: CBS
The "Survivor: One World" season premiere presented longtime fans of the veteran reality series with a lot of firsts. In a brand new twist, all 18 competitors are living on the same beach from the very beginning, divided into two tribes based on gender. But that's not the only first: For the first time in "Survivor" history, the first contestant to leave the game was not voted out, but left due to a medical emergency. Kourtney Moon left the island after a nasty wrist-break in the opening immunity challenge — a challenge that the men subsequently won by default, by the way, after they were given the choice to claim victory early or continue competing against their Kourtney-less rivals.
Kourtney's medical evacuation and...
- 2/16/2012
- MTV Music News
What an incredible first episode of Survivor One World: chaotic, weird, real, totally unpredictable. A challenge stopped in the middle, theft, bickering--and in the end, no one was even voted out because Kourtney Moon had to be removed from the game for surgery to her broken wrist. Jeff Probst started the season with incredible news: "When you are voted out this season, there is no second chance. You go home." What a twist! But he...
- 2/16/2012
- by Andy Dehnart
- Reality Blurred
Survivor 24 eliminated Kourtney Moon in episode 1 tonight due to bad injury. Tonight's season 24 premiere episode ,entitled "One World," kicked off with the new cast,being helicoptered onto the island. Then host Jeff Probst talked with the cast for a little bit before splitting the men and the women into two separate groups. After that,he revealed that Redemption Island is gone,so once they're voted off,that's it. He also had them dig around a truck to get materials,and the girls felt slighted,claiming the guys stole the ax from them. After the break, they showed commentary footage. The tribes were up their stuff up. Kourtney revealed that she wasn't thrilled to split off from the men,because girls can get really caddy. Later on,it was revealed that both tribes were sharing the same part of the island,giving the title of this season, "One World," more of a literal meaning.
- 2/16/2012
- by Andre
- OnTheFlix
Survivor returns to our screens for its brand new season tonight (February 15) and there are a few twists in store for the new castaways... The two tribes - Salani and Manono - will be split into men versus women and both tribes will have to live together at the same camp, meaning they will have to decide whether to share resources and alliances could be formed between opposing tribe members. Ahead of tonight's premiere, make yourselves familiar with the female Salani Tribe by watching their introduction videos below. Kourtney Moon Single mom Kourtney is a mechanic with a 7-year-old son who wants to play the game with integrity and show her good character. "I don't want to be known as the person who flip flops or stabs people in the back." Chelsea Meissner Southern farm girl Chelsea is a certified scuba-diver, goes spear fishing, and used to train wild (more...
- 2/15/2012
- by By Lara Martin
- Digital Spy
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