Mark Estes Medically Withdraws from ‘Special Forces’ After Injury

UPDATE: The competition on FOX’s hit series, Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, has taken a significant turn as two more recruits were medically withdrawn during the latest episode that aired on November 6, 2023.

In a shocking turn of events, Olympic gold medalist Christie Pearce Rampone and contestant Mark Estes have both exited the course due to serious health concerns. This season has already seen a high number of medical withdrawals, raising eyebrows among fans.

The episode marked an alarming trend as Jussie Smollett was previously removed for a lung infection in Episode 3, and Eric Decker withdrew last week due to a hip injury. With only Episode 7 aired, the season has already surpassed the total withdrawals of previous seasons, with five recruits exiting in Season 3 and just one in Season 2.

During the episode, Rampone faced a chest infection that forced her to leave, echoing Smollett’s earlier health scare. Shortly after, Estes was withdrawn by medical staff due to a severe ear injury, described as “cauliflower ear,” stemming from a challenging murderball task. The medic insisted he needed immediate attention from an ENT surgeon to prevent potential “long-term disfigurement.”

“Estes had to go to the hospital ASAP,” the medic warned, highlighting the seriousness of his condition.

Despite the growing number of withdrawals, several recruits remain in the competition. The remaining contestants include Gia Giudice, Shawn Johnson East, Andrew East, Kody Brown, Brianna LaPaglia, and Randall Cobb.

Fans eager to watch Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test can tune in on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. For those without cable, the show is available for streaming on platforms like Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV. New episodes are also accessible on Hulu every Friday morning and on FOX One, which is offering a one-week free trial.

The intense competition continues to captivate audiences, and with the stakes growing higher, viewers are left wondering what will happen next in this grueling test of endurance. Stay tuned for more updates as the season unfolds!