Pat was the first one eliminated fromSurvivor: David vs. Goliathon Wednesday night’s season premiere.
But he was not voted out.
Nor did he quit.
Pat Cusack on ‘Survivor: David vs. Goliath’.Robert Voets/CBS
Nor was he injured during a challenge.
Nor did he get sick back at camp.
He was then taken out of the game on the advice of theSurvivormedical team.
CBS
It’s not the way anyone would want to go outespecially not on day 3.
It was one of the rawest and most emotional exit interviews we have ever done.
Obviously, everybody’s mood was kind of shattered being the first challenge of the season and everything.
Pat Cusack and tribemates on ‘Survivor: David vs. Goliath’.CBS
And we were all emotional about that.
And rough seas they were.
I was hoping to get some closure for that last night.
Were you knocked down and thrown in the boat?
What did they tell you?
It’s a boat that has like a cuddy.
You mentioned your back, but you also said you couldn’t see and your hand was trembling.
And when I came to, I was looking up and I was like, “Where am I?
Why am I not on the island with my tribe?”
And at that time, my health and safety was the last thing on my mind.
I’ll be honest with you.
I wanted to play.
I would have rather been voted out than to go out that way.
It truly was probably the worst feeling in my life that I’ve ever had.
I got all that way.
I finally get there and to have it happen the way it did, it truly broke me down.
I didn’t want to leave, but unfortunately, my long-term health and safety is number one.
I have a wife and kids here at home.
But knowing that I wasn’t going to be in the game anymore was just gut-wrenching.
Because of your unique circumstances, have you had trouble finding your closure?
I’ve dealt with some demons with it.
When I was in the hospital I was in a real dark place, on the verge of depression.
Everything was stripped away from mewithout anybody’s control but Mother Nature.
It was a total buzzkill.
I wanted to play so bad.
And I wanted to get to the end, win the million dollars and be the soleSurvivor.
And unfortunately, that wasn’t in the cards for me.
Hopefully, they give me another chance.
How long was it before you could get up and out again?
I was in the hospital in Suva for three days.
Everybody from the production side of everything was great.
They were so helpful and reassuring that my health was the number one thing.
I finally came to a conclusion that it was fitting to my story.
It’s a bummer the way it happened, but it’s God’s will.
And I’m truly grateful for the opportunity that I had.
What was it like deciding the circumstances for how you were going to watch the episode last night?
Speaking with Doctor Kara, who is the production psychologist, I was in contact with her.
I won’t lie to you, I was scared to s— last night to see that.
And last night they took care of me because it was really nerve-wracking to watch it.
And with the love of all my friends and family last night, I got through it.
It was very emotional.
I’m still dealing with it today.
But, life goes on.
And hopefully, I get to play again and we can make a different outcome with everything.
But last night was tough.
Nick was going to go home that night, but unfortunately, the cards didn’t fall that way.
I wasn’t going home.
I was going to continue in the game.
But Mother Nature’s wrath kind of robbed me of my opportunity.
But I’m here.
I can’t explain it.
I can’t explain the feelings that I’m still feeling this morning.
But it was definitely a rough spot in my life.
Also check that to readJeff Probst’s account of the incidentand read ourfullSurvivorrecap.
And for more Survivor scoop, follow Dalton on Twitter@DaltonRoss.
