'I was on Biggest Loser and nearly died after the first challenge'

A former participant on The Biggest Loser has claimed they died after undertaking their first challenge on the show.

Netflix's new docuseries, Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser, which is available to stream from today (August 15), provides an in-depth look at the creation of the popular reality TV competition that aired for 18 seasons from 2004 to 2016, with a failed revival attempt in 2020.

The three-part series delves into the highs, lows, and complexities during the show's run. It includes interviews with past contestants, producers, health experts and trainers like Bob Harper who were integral to the show's production.

The series scrutinises the show's approach to transformation, the support mechanisms provided, and the unique challenges posed by filming reality television. Many of those involved reflect on their experiences making the show, its significance for them at the time, and their perspectives on it now.

Tracey Yukich, a contestant from season eight, features in the documentary discussing her experiences. Tracey asserts that her participation was life-altering.

However, this wasn't solely due to her weight loss. During a particularly intense challenge orchestrated by the show's producers, she claims to have had a near-death experience , reports the Mirror.

In their first major mission that year, the participants were whisked away from the ranch where they spent most of their time to a beachfront location. They were filmed from helicopters and on the ground.

A mile-long course was set up along the beach to test each of the new contestants before they had even really started their new exercise regimes. Tracey struggled and collapsed.

The dramatic moment is shown on the show, with serious concern expressed by fellow contestants. The medical team rush onto the scene and are heard several times exclaiming Tracey is unresponsive.

Recounting the incident for the documentary, Tracey says: "I'm running, and my legs feel really heavy. Like lead. What's happening right then is my body's starting to shut down. I might not make it. But I told myself 'I'm gonna do it' because I wanted to change my life."

Tracey is then seen on the show, unable to walk and struggling to speak as she begins to crawl towards the finish line. Other contestants then come over to try and help her.

However, as they do and cheer for her, she collapses.

"I don't remember a lot," Tracey says, "I remember hearing the helicopter. I just felt like I was floating. And then my grandpa was there. And then I saw darkness. But then I saw light. So I knew, I knew I died that day."

During filming, it was initially thought Tracey had suffered heat stroke.

Nevertheless, she has since revealed it was rhabdomyolysis, a potentially fatal muscle injury.

"My organs were literally shutting down. I didn't realise that I had rhabdomyolysis. And rhabdomyolysis is your body's way of saying 'I'm going to shut down on you'. It started with my liver, then it was in my kidneys and then it goes to your heart. And that's where I almost died."

Tracey reveals she was unable to get out of bed to visit the toilet herself and could still feel grit and sand beneath her fingernails.

Medical professionals warned her they might need to carry out drastic surgery to assist her recovery.

She also recognises that only the programme's medical adviser Dr Robert Huizenga grasped how unwell she was.

Dr Huizenga also reveals to the documentary that the programme failed to inform him of the challenge Tracey and the other contestants were undertaking.

Despite her ordeal, and still feeling physically frail afterwards, Tracey stayed on the programme. She lasted until week eight, when she was eliminated.

Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser is streaming on Netflix.