Eden Dally quits SAS Australia after freezing during tightrope challenge

After being tasked with crawling across a tightrope suspended above the ocean, Eden Dally backed out at the final moment and quit during Monday’s SAS Australia.

The 29-year-old former Love Island star admitted he was petrified, and told DS (directing staff) Billy Billingham: ‘I don’t think I can do this one. It’s bringing up bad memories.’

After getting a pep talk from Billy, Eden assured the DS he’d give it a go, before reflecting on a previous traumatic experience. 

Another one gone: After being tasked with crawling across a tightrope suspended above the ocean, Eden Dally backed out at the final moment and quit during Monday’s SAS Australia

‘I was at the beach, and hearing these screams from these two guys. They point to the water, and I see this guy going under,’ he recounted.

‘So I grabbed my board and I charged into the water, and then as I got there, he just sunk. So I’ve jumped off my board and I’m feeling around, and I couldn’t feel him, and then I’ve started to drown.

‘I’m trying to stay afloat and there were big waves coming in. It was like a dishwasher. It was just so rough and rocky… 

Having doubts: The 28-year-old former Love Island star admitted he was petrified, and told DS (directing staff) Billy Billingham: 'I don't think I can do this one. It's bringing up bad memories'

Having doubts: The 28-year-old former Love Island star admitted he was petrified, and told DS (directing staff) Billy Billingham: ‘I don’t think I can do this one. It’s bringing up bad memories’

'I'm trying to stay afloat and there were big waves coming in. It was like a dishwasher. It was just so rough and rocky...' he recounted

‘I’m trying to stay afloat and there were big waves coming in. It was like a dishwasher. It was just so rough and rocky…’ he recounted

‘The guy that I was trying to save was under the water, and I helped them locate him. They brought him in and they tried to revive him for about 40 minutes and he passed away.’

He added: ‘I felt just a lot of sadness afterwards, to be honest. I just always think, if I’d been able to keep his head up, I could have got him. It’s very unfortunate that I didn’t get him. Really unfortunate.’ 

As Eden climbed to the edge of the rock face where the rope was suspended, he looked down into the rough water and began to panic.

'I'm petrified of heights. Can't do it... I'm sorry, I'm letting you down. I just can't do it. I freeze. I can't do it,' he said

‘I’m petrified of heights. Can’t do it… I’m sorry, I’m letting you down. I just can’t do it. I freeze. I can’t do it,’ he said

Terrifying: As Eden climbed to the edge of the rock face where the rope was suspended, he looked down into the rough water and began to panic

Terrifying: As Eden climbed to the edge of the rock face where the rope was suspended, he looked down into the rough water and began to panic

After mounting the rope, Eden starting flailing, before repeatedly asking the DS to ‘pull me back’.

‘No, I don’t want to do it! Pull me back. Please pull me back,’ he insisted, as DS Ollie Ollerton urged him to ‘calm down’. 

He continued: ‘I’m petrified of heights. Can’t do it… I’m sorry, I’m letting you down. I just can’t do it. I freeze. I can’t do it.’

Panic attack: After mounting the rope, Eden starting flailing, before repeatedly asking the DS to 'pull me back'

Panic attack: After mounting the rope, Eden starting flailing, before repeatedly asking the DS to ‘pull me back’

'No, I don't want to do it! Pull me back. Please pull me back,' he insisted, as DS Ollie Ollerton urged him to 'calm down'

‘No, I don’t want to do it! Pull me back. Please pull me back,’ he insisted, as DS Ollie Ollerton urged him to ‘calm down’

Eden then pulled off his armband and handed it over to the DS, essentially quitting the show as the other recruits watched on in disbelief. 

Talking to chief instructor Ant Middleton, Eden confessed the challenge had been a hurdle he ‘just couldn’t get over’.

‘I hate heights and I had an incident into the ocean one day, and it’s… sometimes it’s still there,’ he said, gesturing towards his head. 

Man down: Talking to chief instructor Ant Middleton, Eden confessed the challenge had been a hurdle he 'just couldn't get over', causing him to quit the show

Man down: Talking to chief instructor Ant Middleton, Eden confessed the challenge had been a hurdle he ‘just couldn’t get over’, causing him to quit the show

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