‘Survivor’ Season 42: Daniel Isn’t the First Castaway to Dislocate a Shoulder During a Challenge

The first challenge in Survivor Season 42 was a doozy, and it featured the first injury of the game when Daniel Strunk dislocated his shoulder. Injuries are not new to the game of Survivor, and thankfully, Daniel was not among the castaways who producers had to medically evacuate. But the Survivor Season 42 contestant was added to a very exclusive list of those who dislocated their shoulders during the opening challenge.

Daniel Strunk dislocated his shoulder on Day 1 in ‘Survivor’ Season 42

Jeff Probst welcomed the Survivor Season 42 castaways with open arms during the premiere and then immediately forced them to complete a challenge.

The tribes had to send one member at a time to a designated location where they would untie two paddles and bring them back to their platform. Once a tribe had all their paddles, they could enter the water. They would then row around a buoy, collect bamboo sticks, and retrieve a flint. The first tribe to get their flint won it and a pot and machete.

Daniel was the first Vati castaway to retrieve paddles in the Survivor Season 42 premiere. But he dislocated his shoulder while doing so, and Probst brought medical in to look at him. They re-set his shoulder, and they cleared him to continue in the game.

Stephenie LaGrossa also dislocated her shoulder in ‘Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains’

Daniel was not the first contestant to dislocate their shoulder during a Survivor challenge. Stephenie LaGrossa, who played in Survivor: Palau, Survivor: Guatemala, and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, also dislocated her shoulder in the show.

Stephenie was a fan favorite who dominated during challenges. She always gave it her all, which fans witnessed on full display in the premiere of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Stephenie’s determination to win resulted in a dislocated shoulder that the medical team had to re-set mid-challenge.

The reward challenge was brutal, forcing castaways to fight each other for a bag and bring it back to their tribe’s mat in rounds. Of course, Stephenie won the first match for the Heroes tribe, but she injured herself. Thankfully, the medical team cleared her to continue playing the game.

So Stephenie and Daniel are now a part of the exclusive Survivor club of contestants who dislocated their shoulders during the first challenge.

Daniel made a fatal mistake during Tribal Council in ‘Survivor’ Season 42

Daniel is still kicking in Survivor Season 42, but his time could be running out. He made a few errors in the third episode of the season, which might have sealed his fate. Daniel played both sides of his tribe, and due to some of Vati not having a vote, a tie ensued when they went to Tribal Council. And Daniel was forced to reveal his cards.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jeff Probst discussed the chaotic tribal and explained where Daniel went wrong.

“Daniel is the first to speak, and with his two-sentence declaration, he essentially ends the negotiation before it can begin,” the host shared. “And let me say this — I really like Daniel. He’s a lot of fun to have on the show, he’s super bright, and I’m sure he would say it differently if he could do it again.”

He continued, “Here’s what Daniel said to Hai [Giang]: ‘I want to start with the following premise. I really do not want to draw rocks.’ Done. Game over. By telling Hai he was afraid to draw rocks, he lost all his bargaining power. Now all Hai has to do is hold strong and imply he is willing to draw rocks if he doesn’t get his way. After a few minutes of chatter, Hai makes his stand, telling Daniel: ‘I’m not changing my vote.’ And that was that.”

“As for Daniel, mistakes happen all the time on Survivor, it’s how you recover from them that matters,” Probst concluded. “Hai won the battle, but the war is far from over.”

Survivor Season 42 airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.