Tuesday evening’s gripping episode of SAS Australia reached its midpoint, with the nine stalwarts experiencing suburban warfare drone exercises that tested not just their physical skills, but also their deep-seated trust in one another.
Participants were split into pairs, with one acting as a drone operator and the other as a ground soldier. Their challenge? To manoeuvre through a labyrinth of structures and make a safe exit.
However, the spotlight turned to Olympic diver, Mathew Mitcham, whose antics in the task caught the Directing Staff’s (DS) attention. Whisked away to the mirror room, Mathew poured out his heart about his past struggles. \
“When I got overwhelmed with feelings that I couldn’t keep on the inside, I used to cut myself out of anger… I had to call my grandma to take me to hospital.”
Diving, for him, became more than a sport. It was a lifeline.
“It was my ticket to being special… because I knew I could do it really well.”
The episode’s second challenge was no less intense. Contestants were required to rappel down a daunting cliffside, placing their safety in their partner’s hands, who controlled the rope’s tension. However, a tense moment unfolded when Mahalia, an international rugby sensation, lost control, causing her partner Abbey to free fall. DS Jay had to intervene swiftly, averting a potential disaster.
A heartfelt conversation followed as Mahalia revealed the traumatic events from her past. She spoke of a harrowing incident that landed her mother in the hospital for over a year.
“She’s still with us gratefully. But she did die three times on the table. She spent a year and a half in hospital.”
With her older sister grappling with drug addiction and later succumbing to a heart attack, Mahalia reminisced,
“To lose my sister when I was 13 had a massive impact on my family… It was painful. The fact that I will never see her or hear her voice again give her one more cuddle, really hurts.”
But it wasn’t all gloom. Five days in, Anthony “The Man” Mundine took a bold step, relinquishing his spot. While admitting to his challenges in the tasks, he maintained a positive outlook.
“Walking away, I feel great… I made it halfway through and I’m grateful for that.”
What’s next on SAS Australia? Monday promises high-octane drama, as the participants face a cutthroat game of murderball and an arduous grunt task, unveiling an unexpected hero.
The star recruits remaining on SAS Australia in 2023 are:
Abbey Holmes, 32 – AFL Field Commentator
Dr Craig Challen, 57 – Thai Cave Rescue Hero
Craig McLachlan, 57 – Actor
Mahalia Murphy, 29 – International Rugby Star
Matthew Mitcham, 35 – Olympic Gold Diver
Peter Bol, 29 – Olympic Runner
Tim Robards, 40 – OG Bachelor
Zima Anderson, 25 – Actor
