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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The available reporting does not substantiate 15 distinct close calls on the original U.S. Fear Factor. It does document one producer-recalled near-miss, two 2011 U.S.-production incidents involving injuries or potential injury, and a separate injury on the South African franchise. Those events differ in who was involved and when they occurred, so they should not be presented as 15 equivalent contestant near-misses.
What counts as a documented close call?
A near-miss is not the same as an injury, and a stunt test is not the same as a televised contestant challenge. The accounts below keep those distinctions visible. They cover the specific incidents supported by the cited reports; the available sources do not establish a count of 15.
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The documented U.S. incidents
A helicopter jump that a producer recalled as a near-miss
In a 2005 report, Broadcasting & Cable quoted executive producer Matt Kunitz recalling a contestant who was supposed to jump feet-first from a helicopter into floating U-Haul boxes on a lake. The report excerpt says the contestant misunderstood the stunt, but does not include the precise misunderstanding or what happened next. It supports calling this a producer-recalled near-miss, but not filling in the missing mechanics or claiming that anyone was injured.
A stunt tester fell six stories during a safety test
In 2011, TMZ reported that a stunt performer testing a new challenge fell six stories after a safety mechanism failed. The performer broke both ankles; a backup safety mechanism slowed the fall, according to the report. This was an injury during testing, not an incident involving a contestant in the televised challenge.
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TMZ relayed this statement from the producers: “Safety is our first priority, and because of that we test these stunts repeatedly with trained stuntmen to ensure our contestants’ well-being.” That is the production’s stated position, not independent confirmation that the safety system worked as intended in this incident.
A contestant was aboard a stunt truck that hit a parked car
Also in 2011, TMZ reported that a contestant riding on top of a stunt truck was taken to hospital after the truck struck a parked car being used in the stunt. TMZ said the contestant was harnessed, was not thrown from the truck, had no major injuries, and was released after a few hours. The report did not name the contestant.
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A separate incident on the South African franchise
A contestant suffered a concussion and abrasions in a dune challenge
This event was reported on the South African production, not the original U.S. series. The Mercury, in a report carried by IOL, said contestant Lebo Babe was hospitalized after a 4×4 dune-drag challenge with a mild concussion and severe skin abrasions. The report said contestants wore protective gear on their arms, torso, and legs, but not helmets. E.tv spokesperson Rhona Pool said the decision reflected concern that a helmet could unbalance contestants and increase the risk of neck injury. This was a reported injury, not a near-miss.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why these reports do not make a list of 15
The sources support different kinds of events: a producer’s recollection of a near-miss, an injured stunt professional during testing, a contestant’s collision-related hospital visit, and an injury on a separate national franchise. They do not support treating all four as contestant near-misses on the U.S. show, or expanding them into 15 distinct examples.
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For context, Broadcasting & Cable described more than 200 stunts across five seasons in 2005. That is a production-history figure, not a count of injuries or close calls. The same report quoted senior producer and head stunt coordinator Perry Barndt warning: “I tell everybody on this show: ‘It is not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when and how bad. It’s inevitable. It doesn’t matter how good you are or how careful you are. Somebody can get hurt.’” His statement describes the risk he believed the production faced; it does not document a particular incident or establish an injury rate.
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- Playboy - Women Of Fear Factor
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