Filming for the upcoming season of The Block has been plagued with drama, devastation and major heath hazards.
Before the show was temporarily shut down for 40 days due to the COVID-19 crisis back in March, one contestant was allegedly involved in a serious accident on-set.
According to New Idea magazine, the ‘Blockhead’ sustained a serious injury after slipping and falling off a perilous surface, amid gruelling filming conditions.
Is this season of The Block cursed? Contestant on Channel Nine show rushed to hospital after suffering a serious injury on set… before show’s temporary suspension due to COVID-19 crisis
‘(The contestants) had just done an all-nighter. And at the time, Melbourne had had a fair bit of rain, so the surfaces everyone was walking around on were uneven,’ the insider said.
The publication claims the Blockhead did try their best to brush off the incident and keep working, but became seriously unwell and required urgent medical care.
‘Everyone was extremely worried, especially Scotty and Shelley,’ the source recalled, explaining that the participant ‘couldn’t move’ and was rushed straight to the emergency room in an ambulance.
Devastated: A source tells the magazine that the accident was the first of its kind on the show, and the contestant’s involvement on The Block going forward will be seriously affected
A source tells the magazine that the accident, and subsequent injury, was a first on the show, and the contestant’s involvement on The Block going forward will be seriously affected, plunging production into chaos.
Although all care is taken to prevent injuries on The Block, like on any construction site, accidents can occur,’ a Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘During production a contestant lost their balance and acquired an injury. The health and safety of all involved is of the utmost importance, so immediate and appropriate medical attention was organised.’
Meanwhile, a new teaser for The Block shows the emotionally charged moment host Scott Cam tells the contestants that filming for the series will be temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis.
With dramatic music playing in the background, contestants are seen breaking down into tears after hearing the shocking news.
Interstate contestants are then forced to discuss their next plan of action, with one contestant declaring he’ll ‘walk home to his family if he has to’.
Tough times: Meanwhile, a new teaser for The Block shows the emotionally charged moment host Scott Cam tells the contestants that filming for the series will be temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 crisis
In the tense scenes, everyone gathers around the TV screen as Premier Daniel Andrews reveals: ‘Life is changing in Australia, as it is all around the world.’
‘This is so scary,’ a contestant admits in response.
Scott then interrupts everyone to tell them: ‘I’m sorry it’s come to this. I’m shutting it down now.’
With their future on the show uncertain, many break down into tears as they attempt to process the news.
In the tense scenes: Everyone gathers around the TV screen as Premier Daniel Andrews reveals: ‘Life is changing in Australia, as it is all around the world’
Heartbreak: With their future on the show uncertain, many break down into tears as they attempt to process the news
Filming was suspended for The Block in late March for six weeks.
Additional safety precautions were put in place to protect everybody on set from daily temperature checks to hand sanitisers readily available.
Meanwhile, in an extended trailer for Monday night’s program, Tash already reached breaking point, wiping tears from her face.
The 32-year-old, who appeared overwhelmed by figures and paperwork, was comforted by her father Harry, 57, who is competing on the show alongside her.
‘I can’t wrap it around in my head, I don’t understand it!’ an overwhelmed Tash told her father.
‘I know it’s a lot,’ he said, attempting to calm her down.
Harry, who shares Tash with Melbourne’s celebrity hairdresser Andrea Pavlou, said in a piece to camera that no parent would want to see ‘their child go through that’.
The father and daughter duo are competing on the show alongside couples Sarah and George, Daniel and Jade, Luke and Jasmin, and Jimmy and Tam.
Each team will be tasked with renovating a house, based on a particular decade.
The winner of Sunday night’s ‘beach box challenge’ will have the first pick of the houses.
‘That’s massive, that dictates your auction, that dictates everything for you,’ Sarah said in Monday night’s trailer.
Jade added: ‘It gives you a lead straight away.’
While Jasmin appeared confident, announcing on camera that she and Luke are there to win.
Emotional: Appearing flustered by what looked to be figures and paperwork, Tash broke down in tears
‘We want to have the advantage of picking the right house to set us up for The Block. We want to win!’ Jasmin said.
Veteran host Scott Cam has returned for the 2020 season, alongside judges Shaynna Blaze, Neale Whitaker and Darren Palmer.
The Block continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine