‘Survivor’ Doctor Commits Suicide After Contestant’s Death

Thierry Costa, a doctor working on the French version of Survivor, committed suicide this month following the death of Gerald Babin, one of the show’s contestants.

Babin died of a heart attack during the first day of filming back in March. After Babin’s death, many people criticized Costa for negligence.

Fox News reports that Babin, 25, suffered cardiac arrest after a tug-of-war challenge during the first day of filming on the French version of Survivor. Babin complained that he was having cramps during the competition and was treated on the set by Costa. When his condition worsened, he was transported via helicopter to a nearby hospital.

Unfortunately, Babin did not survive.

In Costa’s suicide note, the Survivor doctor writes that the media smeared his name following Babin’s death.

Costa wrote: “Unjust accusations and assumptions have been made against me … I am sure I treated Gerald with respect as a patient and not as a contestant.”

According to Sky News, Costa was found dead in Cambodia, where Koh Lanta: The Revenge Of The Heroes, was being filmed. Filming was cancelled shortly after Babin’s death.

Production company Adventure Line Productions said in a statement: “We have learned with dismay that Dr. Thierry Costa passed away in Cambodia today. His high level of professionalism and humanity towards participants and production teams has always been unanimously recognized.”

Costa was a doctor on the show for four seasons.