Zac Efron was flown from Papua New Guinea to Australia for urgent medical attention after contracting a dangerous infection just before Christmas.
The 32-year-old had arrived in PNG on December 7 to film his survival series, Killing Zac Efron, and initially seemed to be having the time of his life.
But it took just nine days for the tropical shoot to become a holiday from hell for the High School Musical star.
Inside Zac Efron’s holiday from hell: How the Hollywood star, 32, went from being welcomed by locals in Papua New Guinea to being hospitalised with a deadly infection in just nine days
Zac departed Los Angeles at the start of the month, and was pictured smiling alongside a member of the cabin crew during the flight.
He was later greeted by locals upon his arrival in PNG on December 7, and happily posed for selfies with many of his excited fans.
Zac then made his way to the East Sepik Province to meet his crew and begin filming.
On location: The 32-year-old had arrived in PNG on December 7 to film his survival series, Killing Zac Efron, and initially seemed to be having the time of his life. Pictured: Zac with his local tour guide, Mr Cyril Tara
Adventure: Zac departed Los Angeles at the start of the month, and was pictured smiling alongside a member of the cabin crew during the flight
Famous face: He was later greeted by locals upon his arrival in PNG on December 7, and happily posed for selfies with many of his excited fans
Over the next two days, Zac canoed to the Kamanibt Village, before being welcomed into the Yanchan Village, where he witnessed a skin cutting ceremony.
A skin cutting ceremony ‘involves making small cuts all over the body to represent the scales of the crocodile’, according to the ABC.
Around this time, the actor posed with two crocodiles that each had rope tied around their mouths.
Mr Cyril Tara, Zac’s local tour guide, told Daily Mail Australia he appeared fine during his first few days of filming in the country.
‘Zac was very happy with no sickness when he left East Sepik Province for the Southern Highlands,’ said Cyril, who had accompanied Zac for two days.
The crew: Zac (far right) then made his way to the East Sepik Province to meet his crew and begin filming
Meeting the locals: Over the next two days, Zac canoed to the Kamanibt Village, before being welcomed into the Yanchan Village, where he witnessed a skin cutting ceremony. Pictured: Zac in one of the villages he visited
Be careful! Around this time, the High School Musical star posed with two crocodiles that each had rope tied around their mouths
Zac then ventured to Mount Hagen, the third largest city in Papua New Guinea.
He was next seen posing with fans at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, before heading into the jungle to film more scenes for Killing Zac Efron.
The program, which will stream on mobile app Quibi, follows Zac as he explores the wilderness of a ‘remote, dangerous island’ for 21 days.
‘Zac was very happy with no sickness when he left East Sepik Province’: Cyril Tara (left), Zac’s local tour guide, told Daily Mail Australia the actor was fine during his first few days of filming
Smiling: He was next seen posing with fans at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, before venturing into the jungle to film more scenes for Killing Zac Efron
In his final picture from PNG – taken on December 16, just nine days after his arrival in the country – Zac was seen smiling with several members of airport staff.
He fell ill shortly after this photo was taken, and was soon diagnosed with a ‘form of typhoid or similar bacterial infection’ after being flown to Brisbane, Australia, for urgent medical treatment.
According to The Sunday Telegraph, Zac arrived at the private St Andrews War Memorial Hospital in Spring Hill ‘in a stable condition’.
There, he received treatment for several days, before being ‘given the all clear’ by doctors to fly home to the U.S. on Christmas Eve.
Location: Killing Zac Efron, which will stream on mobile app Quibi, follows Zac as he heads into the wilderness of a ‘remote, dangerous island’ for 21 days
Before falling ill: In his final picture from PNG – taken on December 16, just nine days after his arrival in the country – Zac was seen smiling with several members of airport staff
Zac appeared in good spirits upon his return to California.
The actor was photographed on December 24 while shopping at the Gap Factory in Camarillo, where he posed with store employee Fabiana Blair.
Ms Blair, 21, told Daily Mail Australia: ‘He seemed fine. Smiles and laughter.’
Addressing his health scare on Instagram on Sunday, Zac wrote: ‘Very thankful to everyone who has reached out. I did get sick in Papua New Guinea but I bounced back quick and finished an amazing three weeks in PNG.
‘I’m home for the holidays with my friends and family. Thanks for all the love and concern, see you in 2020!’
‘He seemed fine’: Zac was next photographed on December 24 while shopping at the Gap Factory in Camarillo, where he posed with store employee Fabiana Blair. Several days earlier, he had received urgent medical attention in Brisbane, Australia, after falling ill in PNG
Recovered: Zac (centre) made an appearance at a Vejo shop opening in LA on December 28