A brutal challenge on Celebrity Treasure Island left two players sidelined before they were both medically eliminated.
Radio host Simon Barnett and comedian David Correos both suffered torn calf muscles in a punishing “push challenge”.
Medics were seen providing aid to them before the show’s host Bree Tomasel announced they had been deemed unfit to return to the show.
Speaking to the Herald, Barnett, who has suffered the same injury before, says he immediately knew the challenge might be a struggle.
“As soon as I saw [it], I said to David, who also tore his calf, ‘This is going to be a really tough one’.”
But the 59-year-old says he was motivated to give it his best after being asked to compete against former Black Fern Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.
“I wanted to beat her so I had the ability to brag for years to come. I saw an opportunity to push really hard. But unfortunately, when I pushed, I tore my calf.”
The challenge required players to use their upper bodies to push against a wooden slider in a scrum-like fashion, attempting to outmuscle the other team by pushing them backwards.
Both Barnett’s and Correos’ legs were locked in and appeared to buckle under the impact of the pushing motion.
Barnett has made a full recovery and is back in the gym, but admits he wishes he could have done more for the charity he was representing in memory of his wife, Jodi Barnett, who died of brain cancer.
“I was so disappointed, as I was playing for the White Matter Brain Cancer Trust, and I really wanted to raise money for them,” he says.
Correos has also made a full recovery but he believes the challenge had some flaws.
“I reckon because the board is one height, the pressure loads on to your body depending on how tall you are... Coincidentally, Si and I are similar heights,” he says.
While he was visibly annoyed on screen, Correos says it wasn’t the elimination that upset him; it was what the injury meant for his ability to do his job outside of the game.
“I didn’t care that the game was over; it was more how this was going to affect my life in the upcoming weeks while still gigging,” the Australian-based stand-up comedian says.
“Calf popping was a curveball for sure.”
Correos wouldn’t confirm if he had lost work because of the injury.
In a statement to the Herald about the challenge, TVNZ says this same challenge had featured in previous seasons without incident.
“We never want to see anyone injured during filming and so we take a number of steps to avoid this situation. Wednesday night’s challenge was designed with health and safety in mind, with a full risk assessment prepared and reviewed prior to filming.
“This challenge was tested in advance and there was a medic on site (as there are with all challenges). Key individuals, including the medic present, are involved in initial assessments, but escalation processes are in place if further treatment for injuries is required. That’s what happened here.”
These injuries are not the first to force a contestant to leave the show early.
From coral poisoning to broken bones, here are the medical eliminations and near misses that have happened on Celebrity Treasure Island.
In one of CTI’s most harrowing moments, TV presenter Coc‑Kroft was injured during a challenge in Fiji after cutting her foot on coral. She soon fell seriously ill and was forced to leave the show to seek medical treatment.
Her condition worsened over the following days and she was eventually airlifted to Auckland Hospital, where she was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome caused by a streptococcal infection.
“It felt like every bone in my body had been broken. I really thought I’d die from the pain,” she told Woman’s Day at the time.
Coc‑Kroft spent five weeks in the hospital and nearly died, requiring multiple resuscitations and facing a year‑long recovery.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under winner suffered a rib injury during a beach rugby challenge, taking a heavy shoulder from actor, and eventual winner, JP Foliaki. Though Jackzon initially played on, the impact took its toll.
A later challenge in the cold ocean pushed her body beyond its limits, and medics to intervene. “I can’t breathe,” Jackzon gasped, clutching her chest and asking if she was going to die.
“It was a horrible, terrifying experience,” Jackzon told RNZ at the time. “It was one of the first times I’ve had that flash of mortality, where you think, ‘Is this it?’”
In one of the 2024 season’s most dramatic moments, champion boxer Motu was taken off the island in a medical emergency.
After a challenge in the rain that pushed contestants to their limits was eventually called off, Motu was seen shivering and in pain as medics intervened.
“It’s pouring rain, it’s cold, you’re all muscle and no body fat, it’s hard to stay warm,” the show’s medic told Motu, who has a history of respiratory issues. “The chest thing is the thing that scares me,” the medic added.
After a night in the hospital, Motu was declared unfit to return and medically eliminated from the show.
Radio host Yorwarth self-eliminated after breaking two toes during a challenge.
She initially attempted to play on but, after a second knock to the toes, was taken for an X-ray that confirmed they were broken.
Yorwarth was forced to withdraw after being put in a moon boot and admitting she might not be able to win the show on crutches.
Lily McManus: In 2019, the Bachelor/Bachelorette star was taken down by a mystery illness, which had her battling a high fever and falling in and out of consciousness. McManus was temporarily removed from the game to receive medical attention before returning to camp after she recovered.
Dame Susan Devoy: The squash legend was in the wars in 2023 during Fans vs Faves in Fiji, suffering from a severe leg infection caused by a cut that led to hallucinations. Adding to the drama, she also had what she referred to as a “mini breakdown” because of extreme exhaustion and the challenges of menopause. Devoy departed overnight but proved her resilience and returned the next day.
Matty McLean: While Celebrity Treasure Island has had its fair share of fainting and near-fainting incidents, the radio host’s collapse on Fans vs Faves was one of the most frightening to watch. The star was caught by host Bree Tomasel as he lost consciousness after a leg push challenge. McLean went on to win the game, and challenges that required pushing again proved the real loser.
Matt Gibb: During a tense challenge in the rain, celebs were pummelled with water as they attempted to fill the other team’s trough. In the process, the TV presenter’s fingers sliced open on the sharp edges of a metal bucket, and the challenge was stopped after it became less of a trough and more of a bloodbath. Gibb was given the option to be removed from the game to get stitches, but decided to remain.
Polly Gillespie: In maybe the show’s earliest injury, the media personality “did a mischief” to her knee when getting off the boat in the first moments of episode one this year. While the 62-year-old initially considered voluntarily leaving, she soldiered on in a knee brace for the next few episodes before being eliminated (very respectfully) by actor Vinnie Bennet.
Celebrity Treasure Island airs Mon-Wed, 7.30pm on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+