In an emotional twist to Australian Survivor: Blood Vs Water, Nina Twine was forced to withdraw from the game after injuring herself in Sunday night’s reward challenge.
The challenge required castaways to slide down a waterslide, and when Nina landed, she twisted her ankle and was in visible pain, unable to complete the challenge.
“I don’t think I can walk on it,” Nina said, as KJ and Michelle helped her out of the water.
On the scene, the medic determined that it was likely a sprain, and said that they’d keep monitoring it to see how it progressed. They later pulled Nina from the reward to be taken for x-rays and medical imagery.
“I’m super worried and I hope it’s not a big deal,” she said in a confessional. “Emotionally, it’s a lot, but I’m definitely trying to stay level headed right now, especially in front of my tribe, because I don’t really wanna concern anybody else and distract them.”
Nina was adamant that she didn’t want to be pulled from the game, saying: “I feel like I could win it! I feel like I could make it to the end and I could have really good arguments, really decent résumé, I’m just starting to build it up.”
Hopeful that she’d be able to pull through, she added: “For this to come along, if I’m able to come out of it, that’s just added to my résumé, because we’ve seen so far that injury doesn’t necessarily mean you’re done.”
Unfortunately for Nina, the cards weren’t in her favour. It was the next day that the news broke, as the tribes entered for the day’s immunity challenge. With both tribes wondering where Nina was, they soon got their answer.
Addressing both tribes, host Jonathan LaPaglia said: “As you all know, Nina injured her ankle at the challenge yesterday. The medical team reassessed her after the challenge and they determined that she needed further investigation. Let’s bring her in.”
A car pulled up, and Nina, now strapped into a moon boot, got out on crutches, teary-eyed, as castaways on both tribes let out sighs of empathy and disappointment.
“So, the medical team have assessed you, and they’ve diagnosed an avulsion fracture,” said JLP. “What it means is that the ligament that was attached to the bone has come away, and it’s taken a small piece of bone with it.
“Now while that injury in itself is not a huge deal, it could become an issue down the road if you don’t get the right treatment, which is kind of impossible out here.”
He then announced that Nina would have to be pulled from the game, as Nina broke down in tears.
“Nina, are you okay?” he asked.
“I can’t decide if this is worse than being blindsided!” she laughed through her tears.
Composing herself, she added: “Um, it is what it is, can’t do anything about it, but it’s just frustrating that this is how I have to go out.”
Coming in as the daughter of two-time winner and queen of Survivor, Sandra Diaz-Twine, Nina explained how much it meant to her to be able to make her own mark on Survivor.
“It means a lot, especially with the people I’ve been with,” she said. “I wish they were mean, so this would be easier! But I’ve actually connected with pretty much everybody out here, one way or another.”
Nina went on to say that although she wished things were different, she’d happily “take what [she] was given”.
“These guys made this opportunity and this experience even better than I thought it was going to be,” she said.
“Nina, it has been an absolute pleasure having you out here to play Survivor with us, but I have a feeling this is not gonna be the last time we’re gonna see you on Australian Survivor, so let’s get you out of here, and let’s get you healed,” said JLP.
In her final confessional, Nina said that she “surprised [herself]” during her time on Australian Survivor.
“I know that I’ll be remembered for being determined, for being an unexpected challenge beast, and just dominating at camp socially. I was just so proud that I went further than the Queen of Survivor,” she said.
Of course, with Nina being widely considered one of the frontrunners of the season, fans rushed to Twitter to express their disappointment that her time in the game had been cut short.
Let’s hope we see Nina back on Australian Survivor soon!
Australian Survivor airs at 7.30pm, Sundays and Mondays, only on 10 and 10 Play on Demand.
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