A 38-year-old man died of natural causes last year during the recording of the TBS show “Wipeout”, the office of the LA Coroner determined.
Michael Paredes lost consciousness after falling from the program’s obstacle course on November 18. He died a day later. An autopsy report, released on Friday, showed that Paredes was dying of a heart attack and that he was suffering from undiagnosed coronary artery disease.
The toxicological report also showed that Parades did not have drugs or alcohol when he died. According to the report, he regularly consumed Nutrex Outlift Amped, a pre-workout nutritional supplement. According to the report, Parades drank a cup of water mixed with the supplement powder on the morning of the show.
The autopsy does not indicate that the supplement played a role in Paredes’ death. However, it is reported that his fiancée told investigators that the supplement may have caused a false positive result for MDMA, or Ecstasy, shortly after Paredes arrived at the hospital. She told investigators he was not drinking or taking drugs. He also had no adverse effects from the supplement and did not indicate any headaches or other ailments before falling off the obstacle course.
According to the report, Paredes successfully completed two of the obstacles, but fell on the third one. He struggled to swim to the side of the pool, and had to be pulled out. He was lifted in a wheelchair but quickly lost consciousness. Bystanders began performing CPR and paramedics were called. He was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where he was pronounced dead the next day.
According to his fiancée, Paredes practiced two hours a day five hours a week. He and his fiancée sold wellness products, including the Nutrex product he consumed.
He and his fiancée both took part in the show. Both had to submit a drug screen, an ECG and a COVID-19 test to qualify. They both passed the show.
“Wipeout” aired on ABC from 2008 to 2014. TBS announced last year that it will restart the program, but it is not yet in premiere. The program is produced by Endemol Shine North America. The companies expressed condolences to Paredes’ family after his death.