Bear Grylls Antarctica Injury Update: “I Severely Crushed My Shoulder”

Bear Gryll’s injury in Antarctica seems to have been worse than expected.  After being medically evacuated from Antarctica and arriving in the U.K.,  Bear had a chance to finally have doctors take a look at his very painful injuries.

Bear Gryll’s right shoulder and clavicle were both smashed in a kite-skiing accident.  The doctors say that Bear could be out of action for 10 weeks, then may have to suffer through a bout of reconstructive surgery.  You would think that this would not sit to well with Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild host, but on a recent blog post, Bear seemed to be upbeat about the whole ordeal:

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Bear Grylls Injury Update

The injury to Bear Grylls, host of Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild, is currently being evaluated and assessed.  Bear Grylls was on an expedition to climb a peak in Antarctica  with a team of four climbers sponsored by Ethanol Ventures.  Soon after the accident, Bear Grylls posted this report to his Journey Antarctica 2008 website:

Sorry for the radio silence over the last 24 hours - but I have had a bit of an accident. We were all flying across the ice using the kite skis, which is when you use the big flexi-foil kites on long lines attached to your harness that propels you across the snow and ice. I was doing speeds of over 50 kilometres an hour when I hit a patch of blue ice, lost a ski and got catapulted into the air, crashing down very hard. There is no doubt my helmet saved my life, but I smashed my shoulder and hands and was badly winded. I knew at once I had done something bad to my shoulder and was in absolute agony, my shoulder was drooped down and a bone was sticking out at a weird angle. I am safe at our expedition basecamp now and the shoulder is all strapped up tight, but is very painful. The bottom line is I am lucky.

This report lays out the details of what exactly took place.  The extent of his injuries are still not known and various reports have him currently in Britain, South Africa, or even still in Antarctica awaiting a heli-evac.  It is thought that Bear Grylls has suffered a broken shoulder and possibly some internal injuries after suffering the fall while kite skiing.

It is also being reported that the team Bear Grylls was climbing with has made a successful summit of the peak that Bear was shooting for.  I have read some mixed reports that portions of this incident, including the after-accident medical attention, may be boadcast on a future episode of Man vs. Wild.  Bear Grylls was not filming for this program at the time the event took place, but we all know when something big happens to a star, the cameras can follow in very short time.

It will be interesting to see what effect this may have on Bear Grylls and his Man vs. Wild program.  If I remember correctly, the new season of Man vs. Wild usually begins in February.  Hopefully the injuries aren’t to severe and Bear can get back to doing what he does best.

The Moose Droppings blog has an interesting update to the Bear Grylls Antarctica saga.  If you want to read more, head over there and see what Moose has to say.

Breaking: Bear Grylls Seriously Injured In Antarctica

Bear Grylls, host of Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild, has been injured while on an expedition in Antarctica.  We heard rumors last year that Bear was planning a South Pole expedition, but not much has been said about him taking part this year…well, obviously he decided to make a go at it and now finds himself injured in one of the most desolate landscapes in the world.

Don’t ask my why this is “Breaking News”, but I am seeing this story all over the place.  Bear has just injured his shoulder, even though it may be a severe injury, but should not be anywhere close to life-threatening.  He fell while trekking the frozen continent and is in the midst of being airlifted back to Britain.

it is also being mentioned that Bear Grylls was also not filming for the Discovery Channel, but on a personal expedition.  This also alludes to the South Pole.  Anyone else know if Bear was heading to the Pole?  I can’t find a confirmation..

I will update this post when I get more information.

UPDATE>>>  Click below

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Rumor Control: Les Stroud, Nor Bear Grylls is DEAD!!

There are internet rumors floating around that Les Stroud or Bear Grylls has died.  I only know this because I am getting an aweful lot of visitors who are visiting this site using those words in their search engines.  (Yes, I do know this).

To lay these rumors to rest, I can confirm with you that neither one has died, is dead, or has been involved in any sort of accident recently.  These rumors are baseless and the product of someone playing games with everyone else’s emotions.

One way to cure these rumors-that have went on for a couple of weeks now, is to simply type in their names and go to their blogs, which are updated on a regular basis.  I am sure they would love to hear that they have survived yet, another death defying feat…the internet rumor.  Sheesh!  If it were true, Discovery Channel and every other news organization would have some information on this.  Don’t trust the rumors.

Bear Grylls Next Adventure–The South Pole

Times Online, the online version of one of the leading newspapers in the UK has put up an interesting article on “Man vs. Wild” and “Surviverman” star, Bear Grylls. This is actually one of the first interviews of it’s type to actually confront and discuss issues that arose last year through the press regarding Gryll’s use of hotel rooms when he was suppose to be surviving in the wild–or the use of dramatic effects out in the wild to bolster the shows image..ect..ect..

Bear Grylls speaking of the addition of hot coals and a smoke machine during filming of a specific scene last season, as told to the Times Online reporter:

Bringing hot coals and a smoke machine to a volcano shocked me almost as much.
“Well, the mistake in production early on was trying to add any extra drama
for the sake of two seconds of shooting. And it wasn’t needed.”

It seems like Bear has learned his lesson and cleaned his show up a bit. Probably the most interesting part to me of the whole interview was at the end:

On the coffee table lie two children’s books about the Antarctic explorer
Shackleton. They are there, I fear, to soften the blow for his sons when,
his TV career glued back together, he departs next year for the South Pole.

Perhaps we will be reporting on another big Bear Grylls adventure. Let’s hope it goes better than the last..his paragliding trip above the height of Mt. Everest–once again–not OVER Mt. Everest as this article claims as well.

Bear Grylls Man vs. Wild Expanded to Two Hours on Discovery Channel? The Controversy Continues…

The controversy surrounding Discovery Channel’s new poster boy Bear Grylls has seemed to have died down a bit recently.  As a matter of fact, when Bear recently announced that his Discovery Channel series Man vs. Wild was expanding to a two hour program rather than the usual one hour for the upcoming season, few people took notice.

I am sure that I will be getting some more entertaining comments pertaining to both Bear Grylls and Les Stroud, as it seems, everytime I mention one or the other it ignites a huge debate about who’s show is better..or who is the baddest survivalist of all..

With that in mind. I am not going to add my two cents here, but I will mention what Mr. Grylls has stated on his blog. 

The new shows will also now be two hours long, instead of one - partly because so many of the locations are so remote, but also so we can go into greater detail, and show the behind the scenes work, including the crew’s role.

One of my goals is to be clearer that this is not a programme about ‘textbook’ survival. It is more like extreme survival, showing what you can do in desperate situations. I always work within my own capabilities and training, but these capabilities might be different from other people’s. I don’t want people to copy what I do, but to watch, hopefully enjoy and in so doing learn something that might one day save their life.

Finally, Mr. Grylls has responded (after a couple of months) to what his feelings are on how the show is percieved.

Perhaps I am a bit fatalistic, but seriously, if we are stranded in an “Extreme Survival” situation, do you think we will have a crew there to chisel out some ice pockets to climb out of the ice we just fell through?  Probably not.

To me, this just shows you how the american television industry operates.  Here, you have Bear Grylls enveloped in controversy for misleading viewers as to what actually is taking place.  People take notice of Bear.  Discovery Channel notices people and POOF!…an extra hour of Man vs. Wild Programming is added to this years season.

My beef isn’t with Mr. Grylls.  It is with the misrepresentation of the programming being fed by Discovery Channel to the American public, and quite possibly the youth…Yes, they are adding a disclaimer to the program this year.  Yes, they conducted their own investigation into the issues surrounding Mr. Grylls Program..and YES, they have now added an extra hour of programming.

Tell me your thoughts people..

Bear Grylls Fighting Back? We Found the Blog!

I am not sure many of you who have been following the recent discussion about Bear Grylls know that he has his own personal blog.  Actually, this is new to me as well–but worth a read none the less.

Bear Grylls recently took a few momments to address the recent discussions taking place over his Man vs. Wild and Born Survivor programs..

the recent press accusations of motels and stagings in the show that have been doing the rounds, all I can say is they don’t always tell the full story, but that’s life and part of being in the public eye I guess.

The upshot is we’re determined to make all new shows more inclusive of the crew and their role. Discovery and Channel 4 will also include a disclaimer at the start of the show so there’s no confusion.

Ok, so that is about it…

“all I can say is they don’t always tell the full story”

Was just wondering, since Bear is running his own blog now, why doesn’t he tell the full story?  He hints to it, yet stays quiet.

Another interesting point, Bear has seemingly taken comments that some rather famous adventurers have made in regards to this controversy–towards himself..and made sure that everyone in the public that view this blog can respectively see them.

Of course they are all positives and are posted on his front page.  I think this just may be a possible media balancing act he is trying to portray to the few people who still hold to the fact that Bear has done things ok.

They ooooow and aaaaaah over the names:  Neil Laughton, Jake Meyer, and Ranulph Fiennes–a few rather well-known adventurers–but, Bear uses this as an escape to not say much himself.

Kind of a cheap move, but everyone is already in on his antics–and I guess he is just trying to get it all quieted down and get back to work.

In a couple of days I will be posting a few items that Bear has portrayed on his program that could actually get you killed if you were to follow in his footsteps.  Just remember that TV is just that, and under no circumstance should his shows be the basis for survival training of any kind…

Bear Grylls’ Bridge is Falling Down, Falling Down..

In a bold statement today coming from The Sunday Times Online the leading newspaper in London, England, Channel 4, the host channel for Bear Grylls’ Discover Channel Spinoff Born Survivor, has put out the following statement.

If what has been alleged is proven to be true, I think the channel would have to think very seriously about its future relationship with him,” said a senior C4 executive.

This single statement was buried in an article on another alleged fake Grylls stunt.

The statement was said after it was learned by Channel 4 staff that Discovery Channel, who supplies the program, has learned of some more misrepresentations concerning it’s own show Man vs. Wild.

I have a pretty good idea that none of this is going to fair well with Bear Grylls. 

Channel 4 has been conducting a very public investigation into the misrepresentation of Bear Grylls’ program on the Channel 4 network.  Now it is being learned that The Discovery Channel, in the United States, may be conducting it’s own investigation.

Up to this point, Discovery Channel has been pretty vocal about supporting Bear Grylls’ Man vs. Wild Program.  I think this may come as a surprise to many that the Man vs. Wild program is being investigated as well.  They haven’t come out with a complete statement, yet, by representatives of the channel, but at this point, it obviously can’t be good, and eventually they will have to acknowledge all of the misrepresentations

More from The Times:

A Discovery insider said the fakery was “unacceptable” and had been identified in an internal investigation. Now the channel is reediting the series. Viewers will hear a disclaimer before each show stating that Grylls receives help from survival experts and health and safety officers.

That is right.  I highlighted this information as this is the first mention of a definate disclaimer being added to the Man vs. Wild program.  I mentioned a few posts ago that I felt like this was the route they were going to take with the program.  This has been confirmed.

One can only guess what this disclaimer is actually going to do.  I think at this point everyone already knows Bear has help with the program.  The PROBLEM–and one Discover Channel has obviously tryed to side-step, is the fact that alot of the survival information itself is roughly given or even misconstrued on the program.  This in and of itself could be very dangerous to someone who knows know different between real and fake.

The Discovery Channel has failed to acknowledge that the information contained in the Man vs. Wild program, could be dangerous if it is followed as a guide to survival. 

C4 will decide whether to continue broadcasting Grylls’s programmes after its own investigation into Born Survivor concludes this autumn. It has already decided not to repeat the show, which drew 1.4m viewers in 2006.

Channel 4 is offering a pretty hard stand on this program and it seems that the best interest of the broacasting company is definately being thought out.  They will not play any repeats of the Born Survivor program, even though it was pretty popular in the UK, where Grylls is originally from. 

We can only hope that The Discovery Channel will show it’s viewers the same understanding, and realize how dangerous of a program this could eventually be if someone takes these survival tips to heart..

Bear Grylls and the ONE FACT

Everybody has basically been doing their own Bear Grylls investigation of late.  Some trying to prove what it is he has lied about…and yet others trying to prove the naysayers wrong.

The Everest is Ours blog has taken a comment of mine that I posted on the site and done a little investigative work.

I mentioned that Bear Grylls was not the youngest Brit to scale Everest–even though that is what he claims.  It has been well publicized that in fact, James Allen was the youngest Brit to ever do so.

Seemingly, the Everest is Ours blog has done some great investigative work into this issue, and now I must insert my foot into my mouth…with perhaps a few well placed kicks before it gets there…

Come to find out, James Allen was actually from Australia at the time of his summit.  He held duel citizenships in Australia, Britain, and New Zealand.

Originally James claimed that he was Australian.  Then of course Bear Grylls came along and made the claim that he was the youngest Brit to ever summit Everest…then James changed his story claiming that he was legally from three different countries, and thus HE was the youngest Brit to climb Everest.

We can all see how these little bits of information seem to get twisted so many seperate ways.

The Everest is Ours Blog actually took the initiative to contact Mrs. Elizabeth Hawley about this situation.  Mrs. Hawley, who has become famous as the Everest chronicler of Expeditions makes a point to add that the passport they use when they get their permits, essentially sets what country the climber is from.  As such, James Allen is essentially AUSTRALIAN–this leaves Bear Grylls as standing correct.

All I have to say is IT IS ABOUT TIME.  It is about time that one thing can be attributed to fact concerning Bear Grylls, even though it was surrounded by controversy for awhile.

I give the Everest is Ours blog credit for not only proving myself wrong, but for also setting this story straight for all of you as well.  Very nice work.

More Bear Grylls Bombshells….The truth is coming out in hoardes..

Alright, so by now the world has been involved in a huge debate  for a couple of weeks concerning Bear Grylls and the Misrepresentations of his Man vs. Wild television series on Discovery Channel.  Everyone has had their opinion.  ExplorersWeb has spent considerable time on this issue, The Adventure Blog has been following along as well. 

Before I lay out a few more Bear Grylls bombshells on everyone, I would like to say that it is not Bear Grylls’ specifically that we are all after.  It is the Misrepresentation of the Man vs. Wild series.  The Man vs. Wild series continuously lays claims that the show is authentic–that Bear is dropped into the middle of nowhere and expected to survive on his own ingenuity–even if that ingenuity is undoubtably dangerous. 

For the past couple of weeks the debate has been raging about how dangerous some of the information Bear Grylls represents on his show actually is.  It has been stated numerous times, in numerous other news sources and blogs that if these survival methods were actually used in real life situations, you would die.  It is with this in mind–the safety of the viewer–that these misrepresentations need to be brought out. 

The Discovery Channel has effectively stated that the show will continue, but with the possible use of a disclaimer as to not mislead the public anymore than it already has.  This will be interesting to see as well, as quite a few people are already showing their disproval.  Channel 4 in the UK has subsequently launched it’s own investigation into the claims of the Man vs. Wild series.  At this point, The Discovery Channel has failed to suggest that they may do the same. 

Now for the Bombshells……

Before I jump into these claims, first let me make a statement that all claims have been verified in the media.  All of these new facts have been pulled from the Daily Mail.  The largest Newspaper in the UK, who happens to be conducting a very public investigation of their own. Read more

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