TV

Australian Survivor cast members battled severe weather conditions during filming

Warnings of earthquakes and tsunamis almost caused and evacuation on set.
Jonathan LaPaglia

The latest season of Australian Survivor hits our screens this Sunday and while we know that the game itself is not easy, Mother Nature made things even more difficult this season.

Stephen Tate, Head of Entertainment and Factual Programs at Network Ten, has revealed that the cast and crew were nearly forced to evacuate following earthquake and tsunami warnings earlier this year.

“We had king tides hit us, we had an earthquake while we were there, but thankfully it didn’t create a tsunami, but we were on watch,” Stephen told News Corp.

“One particular challenge on a location on one side of the island, if there was going to be a tsunami, we literally were going to have a 10 minute warning to get to higher ground,” he said.

The weather added a nice amount of drama to the show and they have certainly capitalised on it according to Stephen.

“The way our cast copped it within those circumstances, was amazing.”

Contestant Aimee Stanton (pictured below) revealed that conditions were brutal during one particular storm.

“It was absolutely crazy,” Aimee said.

“Imagine pouring rain and stepping outside and just staying there. We slept in the mud.”

Last year’s Survivor Australia runner-up Lee Carseldine maintains that only the contestants understand how hard it is to survive in the conditions on the island.

“I felt for them when I heard the weather was bad over there, for the simple fact you’ve got no clothes to adapt to, for those conditions,” Lee told News Corp.

“Even if you have shelter, your shelter only helps a certain amount. There were so many horror nights.”

Lee Carseldine on last year’s season of Survivor Australia.

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