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Powerboat champion to sue over BBC show (From This is Hampshire)
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Powerboat champion to sue over BBC show
6:00am Monday 16th November 2009
A HAMPSHIRE powerboat champion is suing the makers of BBC One's extreme game show Total Wipeout after being left with a crippling injury.
Sarah Donohue, 38, was hurt while taking part in the extreme obstacle course in Argentina.
The show, filmed in Buenos Aires, sees contestants make their way across a series of high-up obstacles that often result in a long plunge into a pool of water.
But despite being assured no one is ever injured in the show by production company Endemol, Sarah, was left with a torn hamstring just minutes into taking part.
The international powerboat racing star from Hamble, who was a stunt woman in the Bond movie The World Is Not Enough, has since been left with a damaged leg and is still in need of daily physiotherapy treatment.
"The hamstring is now 7cm short and will never be the same again.
"I've had to learn how to walk again and I have to lift my leg up from the hip," she said.
"I was told that the most anyone ever receives is a few bumps and bruises."
Sarah, who is also an international fitness competitor, is now suing Endemol for loss of earnings and over the way she was treated.
After suffering her injury in November last year she begged the producers to take her to hospital but instead was seen by a member of their onsite medical team.
"What really makes me angry is the way Endemol have treated me.
"But I am very competitive and I won't back down. I will take this to the grave."
Others to be injured on the BBC's Total Wipeout include Celebrity Big Brother contestant Cleo Rocos and Jade Goody's personal trainer Kevin Adams, who are both considering legal action against the broadcaster.
Endemol has said that "stringent measures are in place to ensure the highest standards of health an safety are met."
A spokeswoman added: "If Sarah wishes to take action, in line with standard practice, this will be dealt with by our insurers."
Former European offshore and American national champion Sarah is no stranger to suffering injury during the pursuit of extreme challenges after a near fatal accident in 1999 saw her powerboat crash at 80mph leaving her with a fractured skull, broken ribs and losing all her teeth.
Last month she was seen on TV joining Jack Osbourne and other celebrities to show them how to drive a powerful X-Cat racing boat around an obstacle course in Dubai.
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Your Say YourHampshire
Nothing to say, Soton says...
9:16am Mon 16 Nov 09
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The whole point of Total Wipeout is that people throw themselves around making an **** of themselves on telly, so if you get injured doing it, what do you expect?
.
It sort of sums up UK society today, someone with little desernable talent, has to humiliate themselves on TV to get attention and when it goes wrong, they think they can sue to get compensation.
Linesman, Fareham says...
9:24am Mon 16 Nov 09
If she were doing the dusting or hoovering, then she would not get injured.
Jammy Donut, Brook says...
9:59am Mon 16 Nov 09
Brite Spark, Stubbington says...
10:25am Mon 16 Nov 09
No doubt some PC judge will give her a few hundred thousand quid in compensation, and yet again we'll be comparing the payout with what guys get for losing limbs in Afghanistan. Yes they know the risks involved when they deploy, and I'm sure that this woman was aware that there was an element of danger in being involved with this programme. Compensation Culture.
freemantlegirl2, Southampton says...
11:19am Mon 16 Nov 09
Linesman wrote:ha ha nice try at the wind up....
Is that the sort of thing that a middle-aged woman should be doing?
If she were doing the dusting or hoovering, then she would not get injured.
I agree with all the posters though - ridiculous... I bet the contract had a clause in it too, I mean they can't guarantee no-one will get injured - no-one can - it's just a ludicrous claim to claim that they can't but I suspect that isn't the case.....
She should stop whining, politely ask Endemol to pay for the physio and leave it at that...
StEmmosfire, Woolston says...
2:19pm Mon 16 Nov 09
Linesman, Fareham says...
3:17pm Mon 16 Nov 09
freemantlegirl2 wrote:No wind-up freemantlegirl2.
Linesman wrote: Is that the sort of thing that a middle-aged woman should be doing? If she were doing the dusting or hoovering, then she would not get injured.ha ha nice try at the wind up.... I agree with all the posters though - ridiculous... I bet the contract had a clause in it too, I mean they can't guarantee no-one will get injured - no-one can - it's just a ludicrous claim to claim that they can't but I suspect that isn't the case..... She should stop whining, politely ask Endemol to pay for the physio and leave it at that...
At her age she should be driving an oven, shopping trolly or a vacuum cleaner instead of driving power boats.
Every activity has a risk factor and, as an adult, she should have been aware of that fact by now.
spotburst, Southampton says...
10:27am Tue 17 Nov 09
It seems that Ms. Donohue seeks £££ as well as attention. As for "being assured no one is ever injured in the show" - surely it's naive in the extreme to believe that injuries never happen.
Sarah Donohue
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10 Minute Man, Bitterne says...
6:20am Mon 16 Nov 09