Update: earlier this post was headlined in a way that could have been interpreted that the contestant died during a performance on Wipeout. After speaking with someone familiar with the events, Mr. Sparks complained of pain in the knee. The producers told him not to continue and took him to the hospital. It is not clear that the stroke was suffered during the appearance. Apparently the official cause of death (a pre-existing condition The Wrap story noted) was antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), a disease that causes unnatural blood clotting. I apologize for any confusion/distress caused by the earlier headline.
“We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family,” a joint ABC/Endemol statement read. “This is a tragic loss and our thoughts are with them at this time.”
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The Wrap reports a contestant died last week after suffering a stroke after performing a stunt on ABC’s Wipeout two weeks ago:
Tom Sparks, 33, a recent graduate of the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, was rushed from the northern Los Angeles set of the show to a local hospital two weeks ago. Sparks later was transfered to Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where doctors performed several brain surgeries.
But doctors ultimately decided there was too much brain damage, and he couldn’t be saved, according an email sent to alumni by an Annenberg faculty member.
Sparks died Nov. 5.
Not good
However, his father, Bill Sparks, has told friends and family that his son suffered from a pre-existing condition, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), a disease that causes unnatural clotting of the blood. … Certainly, [Tom] Sparks gave no prior indication of ill health. He wrote on his Facebook page that he had recently completed the Long Beach Marathon.
It is a shame that a man would risk his life like that.
EW.com has a much more detailed story. His death had nothing to do with being on the show, so this headline is really misleading:
http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/11/12/wipeout-contestant-dies/
If he had a pre-existing condition, I am wondering why the producers let him go ahead with being in the show. I know that the Entertainment Article says that they do background checks and medical exams before trying out, but they should have caught this.
DW, I’m with you, and I’ve updated the headline and the post after getting more info. I wouldn’t say (because I can’t know) whether his death had nothing to do with the show. He was taken to the hospital directly from the show. The question Junior G. raises is a good one though, and ultimately the issue with shows missing things on background is probably the bigger issue/story.
I am actually surprised with the amount of things that some reality type shows put contestants through that there is not more of this.
Seems like the Survivor contests are getting more brutal.
And then you see the young woman playing soccer doing all kinds of dirty stuff that is aired a billion times last week and I really wonder if it is all necessary.
The contestant knew he had that condition. Even if he did reveal it to the producers, and it seems like he did not, it was still his choice to compete.
Never mind the accountants, ABC needs to be talking to their lawyers.
its not an ABC production, it’s produced by Endemol…
Still, prudence would dictate that ABC have their lawyers keep an eye on it. That’s an editorial opinion not a legal one.
….R.I.P….FIRST who said it…
The guy chose to go on the show. His decision, simple as that. I’m sure he thought there was no significant risk but occasionally a freak thing will happen. It’s too bad, but no, I don’t think anyone is to “blame” in this situation.
What’s going to happen to the show?
R.G., I’m sure there will be no footage of the deceased shown on the air, but I doubt anyone can predict the effect on the future of the entire production.
this show was a ripoff of ninja warrior, if you want to watch real challenging courses and skills, then watch ninja warrior
i think the bigger question is, did this guy know how serious his pre-existing condition was, and did he know he could risk dying by appearing on this show with that pre-existing condition? I’m sure a medical doctor would, but i don’t know if he did (I guess it depends on what he was told baout the disease). Of course I don’t know much about the disease so I have no idea.
What if ABC gets sued and the show is forced to be canceled?
J.R. – I doubt anybody watches the show for the “challenging courses and kills,” but for the laughs – it’s hilarious.