“It was devastating”— Revisiting Randen Montalvo’s medical evacuation from Survivor 

Randen Montalvo was medically evacuated on Day 7 from Survivor 46 due to a neck injury that posed a risk of paralysis. He had been experiencing numbness and pain, which was initially thought to be a pinched nerve. However, further medical evaluation revealed a bulging disc pressing on a nerve, requiring immediate attention.

Randen reflected on this experience and shared it in an interview with Entertainment Weekly on March 14, 2024.

“And it was devastating. It was probably a moment I will never forget, but I tried to be as strong as possible,” he said.

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A closer look at Randen Montalvo’s medical evacuation from Survivor 46

The first signs of trouble

Randen's health issues began the night before his evacuation. During a heavy storm, he had difficulty sleeping and experienced sharp pain behind his neck.

“It was like a lightning bolt,” he said, describing the sensation.

When he woke up the following morning, he found that his right arm and hand had gone numb, and he was also suffering from a severe headache. Despite these alarming symptoms, Randen chose not to reveal the full extent of his pain, as he didn’t want to appear weak.

"When you're playing the game, I was like: I don't want to show weakness...I don't want to tell people I'm having a problem right now because I was just so determined,” he explained.

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Medical assessment and immediate response

After Randen’s symptoms continued, the show’s medical team examined him. Dr. Will initially suspected a pinched nerve, but later thought it might be a bulging disc in Randen's neck pressing on a nerve. Dr. Will recommended an MRI to confirm the condition, which would require Randen to leave the game. Randen also recalled being checked again during a challenge, where the medical team pressed on the back of his neck.

"They pressed the back of my neck where the spine was, and I screamed—not wanting to scream by the way—and I was like: Okay, my wife's in medical. I knew immediately once I had a swelling near my disc and then my right side,” he stated.

At that point, the Survivor star understood that he might have to leave the game for medical reasons.

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The evacuation and aftermath

When Survivor host Jeff Probst arrived on the beach to inform Randen that he would be medically evacuated, Randen felt a deep sense of disappointment.

“I was mad at that point...And here's the reason why: because I knew that we were going to make merge because we kept on winning. The odds are very good for me...This is what I've always wanted," he explained.

Despite this frustration, he tried to remain strong, understanding the gravity of the situation. After being removed from the game, Randen was transported by boat to receive medical attention.

"I was very disappointed. I was cursing a lot about myself because I felt like I'd rather have gotten voted out than get medevaced," he admitted.

However, as his situation became more serious, he focused on his health. Upon arrival at the medical facility, the Survivor star underwent an MRI, which revealed a swelling pressing on a disc in his neck, with the potential to cause temporary paralysis. Fortunately, doctors determined that the swelling would likely reduce with anti-inflammatory medication, and surgery was not required.

“They immediately put me on anti-inflammatories and I went into therapy for my arm,” he said, noting that the swelling started to decrease in a few days.

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