Wipeout Contestant Dies Following Stroke

Wipeout Contestant Dies

Apparently, a contestant of the game show “Wipeout” died last week of a stroke, which he suffered while filming an episode of the show.

“Wipeout” is a game show in which contestants compete in various water based challenges for the chance to win $50,000. I have watched the program, and while I did think it was funny and entertaining, I also felt it was brutally strenuous for some of the contestants who were obviously not athletes.

Contestant Tom Sparks,33, a newlywed, and avid runner, who was playing along with his wife, first complained of knee pain on set. . Medics halted the filming when Sparks also began complaining of difficulty breathing. He was then transported to a local hospital where he had a stroke, and subsequently died following several surgeries, two weeks later.

He was diagnosed with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, known as APS.

APS is associated with recurrent clotting events including premature stroke and heart attack, according to the APS Foundation of America Inc.'s Web site.

Contestants are subjected to rigorous physical exams prior to approval as a contestant, but APS is a rare disorder which would have required specialized blood testing to reveal.

Sad, just sad.