“Survivor” contestant Jake Latimer shares behind-the-scenes details about the snake bite he suffered that caused a medical emergency on the Oct. 8 episode of the reality show.
In one of the most terrifying moments in the show's history, Latimer was bitten by a venomous banded krait sea snake while sitting on a beach near his tribe's camp.
“I opened my eyes and saw the snake latched onto my foot with its mouth wide open,” Latimer said. Entertaining weekly. “But it didn’t hurt me then. I just felt a tingling sensation. And then I shouted to Alex. I was like, “Guys, I think this thing just bit me!”
Latimer recalled that “the cameras dragged him out onto the beach” to film the scene as it became increasingly “chaotic”.
The 36-year-old Canadian was rushed to the show's base camp, where he was placed on a stretcher and given an oxygen mask while he was treated by the show's medical staff.
“That's when it gets real, man. Because I don't remember who, but somebody told me it was a very venomous snake and I need help, like, now,” he said. “And when I was laying on the stretcher, man, you saw me say, 'I'm going to be a father…'”
Latimer remembers thinking at that moment: “Will I ever get off this island? Will I ever see my child again? Will I ever see my child?” meet my child? And then it hit me because the tubes were coming out of me. I had oxygen masks on.”
He added: “It was the worst fear I've ever felt in my entire life. When you think you're dying, it's a feeling I'll never forget.”
The show's medical staff were able to determine that Latimer had received a “dry bite,” meaning the snake had not released venom into him.
However, the decision was made to remove Latimer from the game to give him time to rest and recover.
“I can't even explain this feeling I'm not going to die. I'm not going to die. And then he was like, “Okay, now it’s time for me to get back into this game.” I have to help my tribe overcome the challenge,” he recalls, adding, “I didn’t think I’d be pulled through.”
Latimer told EW that he reluctantly followed “the doctor's orders” and could “respect” their decision.
“But I have unfinished business and it has been a difficult journey,” he added.
Silver lining? Latimer returned home just in time to see the birth of his son Jax, that is after he was airlifted to a hospital in Brisbane, Australia, where additional doctors were able to evaluate him.
“I wasn’t there long and I have a couple of sisters living there,” he shared. “I was able to spend the afternoon with them and flew home. I returned home less than 48 hours before my baby was born.”
“God works in mysterious ways. I think God put this snake here for a reason, just to bring me home,” he said. “And I hate to say it because I wanted this game so bad, but I also got to see Jax being born, and that's worth a million dollars. And I was there for my wife.”
“So it’s a blessing in disguise. I (otherwise) will never be able to recapture that experience of seeing my baby born,” he said, adding, “Although, like I said, I have unfinished business.”
Latimer previously spoke about his decision to go on the show and miss the birth of his first child in EW interview.
“I gave her the opportunity to leave,” Latimer said at the time. “I said, ‘This is our child. You are here alone.” She's Australian, so she doesn't have anyone in Canada. But she says: “No, you go away. This is your dream, go do it and all the money you make will be mine.”
