Tom Sparks: ‘Wipeout’ Contestant Dies

A contestant on the reality show Wipeout, which airs on the ABC network, has died due to a rare condition.

Tom Sparks and his wife were competing on a Wipeout episode that was supposed to air in 2010 when he suddenly reported a sharp pain in his knee.  Medics on the show's set decided to stop the contest after they realized that Sparks was also having difficulty breathing.

He was taken to a local hospital where, after multiple brain surgeries, he died of a stroke. Doctors determined that the cause of the stroke was antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, also known as APS.

it appears that the crew of Wipeout did everything in their power to help Sparks.  They also qualified him properly prior to his participation on the show, as the qualification criteria are fairly rigorous.

ABC and Endimol, the producer of the Wipeout, offered the following joint statement:

"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family.  This is a tragic loss and our thoughts are with them at this time."

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