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TUNNEL ESCAPE

On their way to an armored car full of loot, contestants Tara and Charles Scotti would have to make their way through our subterranean tunnel maze featuring a myriad of obstacles including sewage, rats, giant tarantulas and two walls of fire. Racing the clock and facing elimination the duo climbed, ducked, slid and crawled their way through the tunnel in an attempt snatch million dollars from their competitors.

FEAR FACTOR: What was it like going through that tunnel?

CHARLES: I felt like I was in a New York City sewer system. It was disgusting. It was stenchy. I felt like I was gonna throw up. I swallowed some. You get thrown in off the top. You can’t breathe. You come up, you gotta catch your breath. You gotta go under the railing, the flames are goin’ on. The spiders came. It was crazy. She was yellin’ and screamin’, I didn’t know what was goin’ on.

TARA: It was just crazy. It was like a horror movie. It was like being inside of a horror movie. A real live horror movie. It’s like you’re putting yourself into, like, the most dangerous feeling situation you could feel. So that plays on your mind. And, you know, fight or flight mechanisms come in. You’re gonna survive and you’re gonna get to the end.

FEAR FACTOR: How was it having to deal with all those spiders and rats?

CHARLES: I stepped on a ton ‘a spiders, a few rats were on my arms. When you went through the webs they’re on your arms, and you’re shakin’ them off, and you’re really--, it’s, it’s, it’s nerve-wracking. It’s nerve-wracking. It’s a small tunnel, too. You feel like you’re stuck in. You can’t breathe. You don’t know what’s goin’ on. It’s really insane.

TARA: Soon as I saw cobwebs, I was just like, “Okay, we’re goin’ through the spiders.” And spiders, spiders are a lot scarier than cobwebs. The cobwebs are just a little distraction for me. The rats were the worst part of the whole thing. You know, mice are cute, but rats are nasty. And they’re just like angry lookin’ rats.

FEAR FACTOR: You’re a big guy, Charles. Was it tight goin’ through that tunnel?

CHARLES: There was tight spots for me. I got cuts and bruises on my shins. I got cuts and bruises on my arms. My back is killin’ me. I got chest scrapes. It was really a grueling event. It was more than I thought I could handle, but thank God we made it.

FEAR FACTOR: Tara, it looked like Charles was pushing you for a while.

TARA: I told him before this stunt started, I’m, like, “Look, bro, you’re my brother. You do what you gotta do. We’re winnin’ this million. Push me, kick me, uh, uh, hurl me. I’ll survive this, you know.” So I let him know, like, there’s no holds barred. Don’t treat me like your dainty little sister. Do what we gotta do. We need this money.”