Survivor 49’s Jake Latimer Details Recovery After Being Bit by Snake

He may not have won Survivor, but Jake Latimer can still call himself a survivor.

A contestant on the latest season of the reality show was removed from the competition after being bitten by a poisonous sea snake while in Fiji. He’s now sharing details of the frightening experience for the first time.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly published on October 9th, Jake described the moment he realized a snake had bitten him. “I opened my eyes and it was latched onto my foot, mouth open,” he said. “It didn’t hurt right away, just felt like a tingling. That’s when I yelled for Alex, telling everyone I thought it had bitten me.” As viewers saw on the show, chaos followed.

Oh my gosh, when he found out he was going to be a dad, it was already so amazing! But then, something happened, and they had to get him to the show’s medical team right away! Thankfully, they got him there by boat, and he said they instantly made him feel so safe and cared for. It was such a relief to hear he was in good hands, especially with the baby on the way! I was SO worried, but knowing the medical team was there for him just…it meant everything.

“That’s when it gets real, man,” he shared. “Because I don’t remember who, but somebody did tell me that that was a very venomous snake and I need to get care, like, now. And when I was lying on that stretcher, man, you saw me say, ‘I’m going to be a dad…’ I’m getting emotional about it, talking about it right now.”

He went on to say, “I’m going to be a father.” The realization hit him hard: would he ever leave the island and see his child? Would he ever even get to meet them? He remembered feeling incredibly sick, with tubes and oxygen masks covering his face, and that’s when the weight of the situation truly set in.

Despite being disappointed, I understand and accept their choice,” he explained. “It’s something I think and dream about constantly, but I don’t blame them for taking me out of the game, and I hold no grudges.”

Just two days after Jake returned home to the U.S., his son was born – a surprising and wonderful coincidence.

Interestingly, Jake’s son arrived just two days after he returned home to the U.S.

You know, it’s crazy, but I really think something bigger was at play that day. Like, maybe that snake actually *helped* me get home, and I know it sounds nuts because I was *so* determined to finish that game. But honestly? Missing it meant I got to be there for the birth of my son, Jax, and that’s worth more than any win, any trophy, anything. Being there for my wife, seeing his first moments… it was a blessing, even though it totally messed up my plans. I’ll never get that experience back, never. It’s just… even with everything, I still feel like I left something unfinished out there, you know?

Keep reading for more on Survivor season 49…