Matt Wright Naked and Afraid Leg Injury, What Happened to Matts Leg on Naked and Afraid?
Updated Jul 10, 2023
Matt Wright Naked and Afraid Leg Injury
Matt Wright, a hunting guide and participant on the Discovery Channel's show Naked and Afraid XL, encountered a severe leg injury during his time in the Amazon. While competing in the current season of the show, Wright and eleven other contestants were dropped in Ecuador's Amazon basin to survive for forty days and nights.
Armed with minimal supplies and accompanied by a small production crew, they were scattered in teams of three throughout the jungle. Wright, known for his hunting skills, quickly became a leader among the contestants, providing them with substantial meals.
Around day seventeen, Wright began experiencing pain in his foot, initially believing it to be a severe bug bite among the countless others he had received in the jungle. However, the pain worsened, and he discovered a blister on his foot.
Despite the discomfort, Wright persisted, continuing to hunt for food and embracing his triumphs. Unfortunately, the blister soon developed into an open sore, severely limiting his mobility.
Wright sought medical attention from both an American medic and an Ecuadorian doctor. The Ecuadorean doctor suspected a serious infection and sent a sample to a lab for testing. Meanwhile, Wright started taking antibiotics to combat the pain and infection. However, the results from the lab confirmed the doctor's suspicions: Wright had contracted a rare and flesh-eating bacterial infection.
The infection rapidly ate away at Wright's flesh, primarily affecting his toes and foot. Realizing the severity of the situation, Wright was forced to tap out of the competition. Within twenty minutes of receiving the test results, he was urgently transported from the jungle to a hospital three hours away.
At the hospital, it was discovered that the infection had eaten through the skin around several toes and reached the muscle in certain areas. Immediate and aggressive treatment was required to prevent further damage, potentially saving Wright's foot, leg, or even his life. For the next seven days, he remained in the Ecuadorean hospital, undergoing intensive care and treatment.
During his hospital stay, Wright experienced challenging circumstances. Hospital staff would clean his foot, leaving the mess on the floor until it could be properly attended to later.
His IV bag would run dry, causing his blood to flow back into the bag. Restricted by the machines he was connected to, he had to use a bedpan. The irony of being in the hospital for foot-related issues was not lost on him.
Eventually, Wright's condition stabilized, and he was allowed to return to the United States. He consulted infectious disease specialists to ensure his recovery was on track. Although he faced complications such as liver and kidney damage due to the strong antibiotics, causing a full-body rash for several weeks, he ultimately recuperated from the infection.
Despite the hardships he endured, Wright remains undeterred and expressed his willingness to participate in future seasons of Naked and Afraid. His determination to overcome the challenges and his survivalist spirit define his unwavering commitment to the show.
What Happened to Matt's Leg on Naked and Afraid?
During Matt Wright's time on Naked and Afraid XL, he faced a life-threatening ordeal with his leg. Around day seventeen, he noticed his foot was hurting, initially thinking it was a bad bug bite.
However, the pain worsened, and a blister appeared on his foot. Despite these challenges, he continued with the show, but the blister eventually turned into an open sore, immobilizing his foot. It was later revealed that he had contracted an extremely rare flesh-eating bacterial infection, with four different types of bacteria identified.
The infection rapidly ate away at the flesh on his foot, forcing him to tap out and seek urgent medical attention. Ultimately, Wright's leg was saved through aggressive treatment, including a week-long stay in a hospital in Ecuador.
His experience was marked by intense pain, physical deterioration, and the threat of losing his leg or even his life. However, he managed to recover and is eager to return for future seasons of the show.
During his time on Naked and Afraid XL, Matt Wright's leg was affected by a severe infection caused by flesh-eating bacteria. Starting as a blister on his foot, the infection rapidly progressed, leading to open sores and the inability to move his foot.
Tests confirmed that Wright had contracted an extremely rare flesh-eating bacterial infection, consisting of four different types of bacteria, including Mycobacterium marinum. The infection caused extensive damage, eating away at the flesh on his foot at an alarming rate.
Faced with the risk of losing his foot, leg, or even his life, Wright was forced to leave the show and was promptly transported to a hospital in Ecuador. After a challenging week-long stay in the hospital, he received aggressive treatment that ultimately saved his leg. Despite enduring a harrowing experience, Wright remains resilient and willing to participate in future seasons of Naked and Afraid.
Naked and Afraid XL
Naked and Afraid XL is an American reality TV series and a spin-off of Naked and Afraid. It premiered on the Discovery Channel in 2015 and challenges a group of individuals to endure the wilderness for an extended period of 40 days, surpassing the original series' 21-day challenge.
The title "XL" serves as a visual representation of the Roman numeral for 40. During the challenge, participants are allowed to bring only one or two chosen items to aid their survival, while they are provided with no additional resources, clothing, food, or water.
The camera crews accompanying them are strictly instructed not to intervene unless there is a medical emergency. Contestants have the freedom to withdraw from the challenge at any time. They must rely on their skills to hunt, trap, gather food, and build shelters using materials found in nature.
The objective is for the remaining survivalists to reach the designated extraction point, proving their ability to thrive in harsh conditions over an extended period of time. While no cash prize has been announced for successful participants, the accomplishment lies in their ability to conquer the challenges and demonstrate their survival skills.
Did Matt Wright Complete the Challenge?
No, Matt Wright did not complete the challenge on Naked and Afraid XL. Despite his initial success as a skilled hunter and leader among the contestants, his journey took a dramatic turn when he contracted a rare flesh-eating bacterial infection during his time in the Amazon.
The infection, caused by necrotizing fasciitis, rapidly progressed and caused severe damage to his foot. The pain became unbearable, and upon receiving the test results confirming the severity of the infection, Wright was forced to tap out of the competition.
He was immediately transported to a hospital where he underwent intensive treatment for seven days. Although he faced immense physical and emotional challenges, Wright's determination to return to the show remains strong, as he expressed his willingness to participate again in the future.
Matt Wright Naked and Afraid Leg Injury - FAQs
Matt Wright contracted a rare flesh-eating bacterial infection during his time on the show. It started as a blister on his foot and quickly progressed, causing severe damage to his leg.
No, he was forced to tap out of the competition due to the severity of his leg injury caused by the infection.
He spent seven days in a hospital in Ecuador receiving intensive treatment for his leg infection.
Although his leg was saved through aggressive treatment, he faced complications such as liver and kidney damage due to strong antibiotics. He eventually recovered from the infection.
Yes, despite his challenging experience, Wright remains eager to return for future seasons of the show.