12-17-2003, 02:55 PM
Quote:Los Angeles (Reuters) - Taping of the NBC hit show \"Fear Factor\" has been suspended indefinitely after an apparent accidental shooting death of a contestant. Earlier today, during a taping of an episode which was to air during May sweeps, Heather Ferguson, 24. a corrections officer for Riverside County Jail in Los Angeles was shot and killed during a botched stunt.
The stunt, which entailed contestants being shot by an Army Ranger sniper with a rifle from a distance of 500 feet went awry as Miss Ferguson fainted, and the bullet missed her protective military-issue Spectra vest, and struck her in the neck. Paramedics on scene attempted to stop the bleeding, but were unable to repair her severed carotid artery.
Miss Ferguson was the third contestant during NBC's \"Police Officer Fear Factor\" to be shot by 18-year Army Ranger sharpshooter veteran Kevin Atkin. Contestants were to stand against a wall and be shot in the chest by Mr. Atkin. The previous two contestants were shot without incident as the Spectra vests, which are more protective than Kevlar, stopped the sniper's bullet easily. NBC Spokesman Lee Snyder said, \"We are all deeply affected by this tragedy, and our hearts go out to Miss Ferguson’s family and friends.\" Mr. Snyder continued, \"Every precaution that could be taken, was taken, and it was just a matter of a freak occurrence as Miss Ferguson apparently passed out and started to fall right as Mr. Atkin was shooting. If that bullet had hit her vest, there is no possibility we would be talking about this incident now.\"
NBC has recently come under fire for the boundary-pushing show. Last year, women's rights groups protested the show's Super Bowl halftime special featuring Playboy Playmates as \"sexist and exploitive\". And as recently as last month, a taping of \"Disabled Fear Factor\" was blasted by the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) as \"heartless\" and \"Nazi-esque\" for events that were set up for handicapped contestants. The event that drew the most ire was one that required contestants to swim the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. While no one was injured during the taping of that show, NBC was forced to issue a statement confirming that the all contestants, including Cesar Cabral, a paraplegic, were fully aware and accepted all risks during the contest..
Heather Ferguson is survived by her parents Robert and Sheila Foley of San Diego, two brothers, and her fiancé William Delano of Los Angeles.
Neither a spokesmen for The Los Angeles Police Department or the US Army were available for comment . However, no arrests have been made at this time.