18 ordinary Australians went on the run, relentlessly pursued by an elite team of Hunters with their reputations on the line.
One by one, our fugitives have been trapped, cornered, and captured. But in Tuesday night’s finale episode of Hunted Australia, fugitives Rob and Stathi did the impossible, reaching the extraction point and winning a share of $100,000.
Here’s how it played out.
Jake, Rob, and Stathi, the three remaining Fugitives, had to call a phone number to receive extraction details, learning that it would be at 1pm the next day, at Inverloch Coastal Reserve. They would win a share of $100,000 if they evaded the Hunters and made it there, but their phone call would notify HQ of their whereabouts and how they obtained the information.
Stathi, still reeling from Matt’s capture in Daylesford, caught a lift to Melbourne. Jake and Robert had previously decided that splitting up would increase their chances, with Hunter HQ still unaware of their plan.
Jake was the first to dial the extraction number. After convincing a stranger to give him a ride, he made the call from a payphone and fled back to his car, which was cleverly parked away from CCTV cameras.
Stathi was the second person to call. He called the extraction line on a stranger’s phone and booked a taxi, intending to travel for as long as he could afford.
Robert was the last to call for extraction details, using his old burner phone.
Going through old leads, Hunter HQ suspected Robert had returned to friends Cordy and Lachy in Hawthorn. They had no idea Jake was there, waiting to be picked up for a ride to Inverloch. Jake bolted out the back when Team Alpha knocked, scaling fences and hiding nearby. Jake was no match for the Hunters and was apprehended less than 24 hours before the extraction.
HQ received intelligence pointing to the Inverloch area as the extraction point, and Team Bravo was dispatched in a helicopter. After spotting another chopper, HQ was convinced that the beach would be the extraction point, with the exit via helicopter.
Stathi, who chose to approach the extraction point via coastal walk rather than road, also received a lift to Inverloch.
Robert was the first to arrive at the extraction point, and he was overjoyed as he boarded the helicopter. Stathi dashed across the sand as Team Bravo arrived on the beach at the same time.
It was a tight footrace to the helicopter, but Stathi escaped just in time, with the helicopter taking off with the inaugural Hunted Australia winners, Stathi and Robert, aboard.
Both were emotional as they promised to split the prise money with their teammates, Matt and Jake, with Stathi hoping to begin his surrogacy journey. Rob won as the underdog, despite being frequently underestimated due to his physique or profession.
On his win, Stathi, from Victoria said:
“Matt and I went on the run to challenge some stereotypes, give more visibility to our queer community and help start new chapters in our lives.
We’re so humbled by all the support and I will be forever grateful to Hunted for putting me one step closer to achieving my dream of being a dad. I truly hope that we have inspired others to embrace their authentic selves.”
WA based Rob added:
“Going into this my main objective was making it to the end with my best friend, someone who has supported all my crazy over the top ideas on the run and at home.
Winning is proof that anything is possible, no matter the obstacle. In the famous words of my buddy Jake (not Jesus), ‘if you’re not first, you’re last’.”
Loved the show – free to air tv is the worst – the reality shows are just trash – what happened to shows like “the glass house” – “the side show” – “good news week” – Paul McDermott where are you?