Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen panics ‘I can’t breathe’ as Bear Grylls saves star from drowning in new Netflix series
Dramatic footage has emerged showing TV survivalist Bear Grylls rescuing Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen from drowning during filming for Netflix’s new series Celebrity Bear Hunt.
The heart-stopping scenes saw Grylls leapt into the sea to save the 59-year-old interior designer, who had become trapped underwater during a challenge.
Ahead of the show, Grylls forbiddingly predicted: “I have done many wild things in my life but I have never hunted celebrities. The celebrities won’t come out of this the same.”
In one of the most recent episodes, an incident occurred during a team challenge that pitted Llewelyn-Bowen and actor Kola Bokinni against Mel B and Steph McGovern.
Contestants were required to jump from a moving boat, collect supply bags in the water, release rescue the crafts anchors, and haul their raft back to shore with supplies.
Dramatic scenes ensued as Llewelyn-Bowen was left requiring oxygen and medical attention after he became stuck beneath a raft, before being saved by the show’s host.
“The next thing I know I get Bear on top of me – which I know millions of people would give their arm for. But he felt like a damp bag of spanners!” Llewelyn-Bowen told MailOnline.
After being pulled from the water, Llewelyn-Bowen was seen struggling to breathe and required immediate medical assistance.
“I got tangled up under the raft,” he explained to host Holly Willoughby after the incident.
“I got stuck underneath the raft. But I was really stupid, I didn’t stop at that point. I then kept carrying on and then I started blacking out and I started getting these chest pains,” he revealed.
The dramatic incident left him unable to continue with the challenge, as he remained on the beach using the oxygen mask for support.
In an emotional confessional captured on the show, Llewelyn-Bowen broke down in tears as he recounted the terrifying experience.
“I really did think that I was having a heart attack,” he admitted while still wearing the oxygen mask.
Fighting back tears, he continued: “I became a very panicky old man. I was just really silly.”
“I sort of threw myself at it a bit too hard,” he added, his voice shaking as he reflected on the ordeal.
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The designer later explained to his fellow contestants that his panic had caused his breathing to become “worse and worse and worse.”
Before filming, Grylls told Good Morning Britain: “I gave them a whole bunch of training beforehand. But, you never really let your guard down until everyone’s safe at the end.
Speaking to MailOnline about the experience, Llewelyn-Bowen acknowledged his limitations with characteristic humour.
“It turns out, I’m actually not built to be an Avenger,” he quipped. “I really thought I could take this on. I was full of adrenaline and confidence, but sadly, my abilities were not quite up to the task.”
“Basically, what happened, I got overtired and I got panicked and I got caught up in the raft. And I didn’t master the way that I was feeling,” he explained.