Los Angeles County officials have identified Michael Paredes as the contestant who after finishing the obstacle course on the popular reality competition series, Wipeout, as first reported by TMZ. Paredes was 38.
While production previously told TMZ that 'a male contestant needed medical attention' on November 18, 2020 after completing the course, and was treated by on-set emergency medics before being transported to a local hospital ' The L.A. County Department medical examiner and coroner's office records show Paredes died on November 19, as reported by Variety.
Paredes, who was based in Oxnard, California, studied at the ITT Technical Institute before he started working as a marketing director at Ultimate Weight Loss Solutions in 2011, as stated on his Facebook page. He was in a long-term relationship with girlfriend Roseanne DeRosa, who also worked at Ultimate Weight Loss Solutions.
TMZ was told by law enforcement that they received a call regarding a person experiencing cardiac arrest just before noon on Wednesday. Before being brought to the hospital, the man was treated with a defibrillator, as he 'was experiencing chest pains after completing the course.'
Wipeout, which was created by Matt Kunitz and Scott Larsen, originally ran for seven seasons on ABC between 2008 and 2014. The series was filmed at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, California. Spinoff versions of the show were also big hits in the U.K. and Germany.
Endemol Shine North America, who produces the show with Sharon Levy DJ Nurre, Shyam Bals' and Keith Geller told TMZ following the contestant's death, 'We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and our thoughts are with them at this time.'