Celebrity Bear Hunt rocked by injuries – with one star ‘forced to drop out in first episode and another nearly dying’ after a stunt went wrong

Celebrity Bear Hunt has been rocked by a slew of injuries, after one star was reportedly forced to drop out in the first episode and another ‘nearly died’ after a stunt went wrong.

Twelve famous faces are taking part in the action-packed show in Costa Rica alongside adventurer Bear Grylls , 50, where they will have to take on daring and gruelling challenges.

As part of the reality series, hosted by Holly Willoughby, the celebrities learn crucial survival skills while camping in the Costa Rican jungle, desperate to avoid being caught by Bear. 

However, as to be expected it was not all smooth sailing and a number of the cast suffered terrifying moments and painful injuries during their time in the jungle. 

According to The Sun, former tennis star Boris Becker crashed out of the series in episode one after hurting his knee.

Executive producer Ben Mitchell told the publication: ‘Boris, after years of playing tennis, as you’d expect, he’s kind of ravaged by injury, so his mobility was impaired.

‘He jarred his knee and we didn’t want him to risk causing any kind of further damage so he was shipped out, which was a real shame.’

MailOnline have conatcted representatives for Boris for comment. 

Elsewhere, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen revealed he nearly died while filming the Netflix show.

During filming in Costa Rica in May last year, Laurence was among celebrities taking part in a water challenge and was told to leap from a boat into the river.

Sources say that he became entangled in a bungee rope and got stuck underneath the boat.

He was dragged underwater for several heart-stopping minutes before being pulled to safety by members of the team supervising the stunt, and lost consciousness.

Laurence, 59, was then resuscitated on the shore by survival expert and former Chief Scout Bear Grylls, who is ‘hunting’ the celebrities in the show.

A source told MailOnline: ‘Laurence was very shaken as was everyone. He said that he thought he was a goner.

‘It was a very serious situation and at the time we thought that maybe Netflix wouldn’t show what happened because it was that bad, but now it looks as if it will be in the programme.

‘Netflix were very very apologetic about it afterwards.’

Speaking about the moment with The Sun, executive producer Ben explained: ‘The celebs had to jump off a moving speedboat SAS-style. I think he had quite a hard landing and was a bit shocked in the water. He thought he was having a heart attack.’

Additionally, Steph McGovern was reportedly rushed to medics after crashing into a cliff during an intense challenge on the show. 

It proved to be particularly dangerous for presenter Steph, 42, as a shock incident saw her almost break her nose after swinging face-first into a cliff face, reported The Sun.

 Steph is said to have been struggling to walk after being covered in bruises, while at one point there were fears she may have been concussed.

The horror smash is also said to have left host Holly Willoughby fighting back tears amid Steph’s ordeal, with there being concerns that the journalist wouldn’t be able to continue.

Luckily for the star, she was deemed fit to continue 24 hours later, though her injury was still visible in the trailer as she was seen with a plaster across her nose.

A source told the publication: ‘Not only was it terrifying for Steph, but for everyone watching – cast, crew and Holly included.

‘Holly was visibly shaken and close to tears, and at one point could be seen covering her face with her hands.

‘It was touch and go about whether Steph would have to leave on medical grounds, so she was monitored for the next 24 hours. But Steph is a trooper – she was determined to stay and luckily for her, she was given the green light to continue.’

MailOnline have contacted representatives for Steph and Netflix for comment.

The show, which is presented by Holly Willoughby and is streaming from February 5th, sees 12 celebrities taking part in challenges in the jungle, including former tennis champion Boris Becker, Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, Spice Girl Mel B and model Lottie Moss.

In a trailer released this week, Mel B says that the experience is ‘terrifying.’

Earlier this month there were reports of a feud among the celebrities which reportedly escalated to the point where show bosses called a meeting to try and calm tensions.

In the show Bear Grylls hunts the stars down in a ‘game of cat and mouse’ and if they are captured then they are eliminated.

British Victoria’s Secret model Leomie Anderson will be on the show as will retired English rugby union player Danny Cipriani, TV personality Big Zuu, actor Una Healey from The Saturdays, actors Kola Bokinni and Joe Thomasand TV presenter Steph McGovern.

Flamboyant Laurence went to Alleyn’s school in Dulwich, South East London and graduated from the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts.

He became famous thanks to the hugely successful show Changing Rooms. He’s also appeared as a judge on the ITV show Popstar to Operastar.

He lives in Gloucestershire with his wife Jackie, their two daughters, their daughters husbands and four grandchildren. He said in a recent interview that the house has been split so that each part of the family can enjoy ‘complete autonomy.’

Adventurer Bear Grylls is a former SAS trooper who fronted various wilderness survival formats including Man Vs Wild, Running Wild with Bear Grylls and The Island with Bear Grylls.

Bear Hunt’s presenter Holly Willoughby quit her role on This Morning in 2023 after being alerted to a kidnap rape and murder plotted by ‘obsessed’ security guard Gavin Plumb.

He was convicted in July last year and sentenced to life with a minimum of 15 years. She has since presented Dancing on Ice and You Bet! And moved house.