An Irish reality television show nearly sank without trace on Friday after
the ship carrying contestants around the country's treacherous coastline hit the
rocks and broke up.
Terrified contestants taking part in state broadcaster RTE's "Cabin Fever"
programme were winched to safety by helicopter after the boat they were supposed
to stay aboard for eight weeks ran aground near Tory Island, Donegal, in
northwest Ireland.
A producer with the company making the programme -- flagged as the Irish
television event of the summer -- said all precautions had been taken, the ship
thoroughly checked before setting out and the crew trained in sea survival.
"I have no idea how it happened," he told RTE.
He said the incident had not been caught on film as the camera crew had not
been on duty.
"(But) we would rather not have one hell of a programme -- we would rather
have a safe ship," he said.
Lifeboats rushed to the ship's aid after crew members sent out a distress
call on Friday afternoon.
RTE said the vessel, carrying 10 contestants competing for a cash prize, the
camera team and ship's crew, had later "completely broken up" and was
"unsalvageable".
However, it added the show would go on. A replacement ship was being found in
England, and filming of the endurance test contest -- an Irish version of
British reality TV hit "Big Brother" -- would continue on nearby Tory
Island.
