Colby Donaldson, voted out in Survivor 50's Episode 6 Blood Moon triple elimination, revealed that a torn ligament and subsequent infection in his foot nearly derailed his game. The Survivor: Australian Outback veteran described the injury as brutal, with his foot swelling like an oven from inflammation and heat. Donaldson said the infection was among the worst medical staff had seen on the show.
Colby Donaldson's Survivor 50 exit came amid a worsening foot injury during Episode 6's Blood Moon twist, which eliminated three castaways. Donaldson, the tenth player out, suffered the initial damage on Day 9 while pushing a boat up the beach in a challenge tied to a Zac Brown reward. He tore a ligament there, but a puncture wound introduced an infection by Day 10, leading to severe swelling, redness, inflammation, and heat. 'My foot was like an oven,' Donaldson said. Medical staff treated it post-elimination at Ponderosa, where Dr. Joe called it probably the worst infection he had seen in the game. Donaldson noted he is unsure if he could have lasted the full competition without treatment, as antibiotics were unavailable during play. Reflecting on his 25-year Survivor history, Donaldson called this his final outing, handing the baton to younger players. He sought to redeem his grumpy demeanor from Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, telling host Jeff Probst beforehand of his intent to recapture his original enthusiasm. At a separate Ponderosa for pre-jury returnees, he bonded with players like Kamilla, Jenna, and Charlie, even beating the latter in ping pong despite his injury. Donaldson praised Rizo's smarts and game knowledge after initial annoyance, noting late-night beach talks strengthened their alliance. Donaldson felt secure before Cirie Fields targeted him as 'the head of the snake,' crediting tribe swaps and connections across beaches. He was surprised the game paced slower than expected, building to the rapid eliminations. Donaldson emphasized luck's role, citing Genevieve's idol finds and rock draw misfortunes.
