“Alone Australia” has crowned its Season 4 winner, with Tasmanian father-of-three and former Navy chef Trent Fenton taking home the $250,000 prize after lasting 52 days alone in the Arctic Circle.
The 40-year-old outlasted nine other survivalists in Sápmi, Finland, where contestants faced subzero temperatures, dwindling food supplies, predators and complete isolation.
“I’m probably wired a bit differently to others. When I think about being in the bush, I think of adventure, hunting, fishing and some of my happiest memories. It’s a place where I feel completely comfortable in my own company,” Fenton said.
“To have the opportunity to be part of ‘Alone Australia’ was unbelievable. I feel incredibly privileged to have spent 52 days in one of the most extreme environments on the planet. My ultimate goal was to inspire my children and show them that if you really want something, go for it, work hard and don’t quit – your dreams really can become a reality. The moment my wife tapped me on the shoulder to tell me I’d won is a memory I’ll cherish forever.”
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Fenton entered the finale alongside 57-year-old New Zealand farmer Clint Waghorn and 24-year-old Western Australian permaculture practitioner and educator Jasper Harvey.
Waghorn withdrew after 47 days and almost seven weeks without protein. He had spent the previous night vomiting before deciding he had pushed his body as far as it could go. “It’s a tough environment – the toughest environment I’ve ever been in. The idea of winning was always in the back of my mind, but the whole objective for me really was to push myself hard, just to see what I could do, and I’ve done that,” he said.
“The money would’ve been nice, but there are things in life worth more than money – like health, love, companionship, friends and family. When you haven’t got them, you realise just how important they are.”
Runner-up Harvey was medically extracted after 48 days when an infection in his hand worsened and began to spread, creating a risk of sepsis. A doctor told him he was no longer medically safe to continue.
“These 48 days have been some of the best of my life. I’m proud of how far I pushed myself and feel at peace knowing I’ve done the experience justice,” Harvey said. “I got my metamorphic growth here. For a caterpillar to turn into a butterfly, it first has to turn to mush. You have to be turned to mush in order to grow. This place mushed me time and time again. Every time I hit a hard moment, I got mushed, and when I came out the other side, I’d grown a little bit. I’m so happy to be leaving here a new person.”
SBS said Season 4 reached 3.41 million viewers across Total TV, with 45% of viewers watching through SBS On Demand. The broadcaster also aired “Alone Australia Season 4: The Reunion,” hosted by Insight’s Kumi Taguchi, bringing the cast together for the first time since filming.
SBS head of unscripted Joseph Maxwell said: “Well done to Trent on surviving 52 days alone in the challenging yet beautiful Arctic Circle. Congratulations also to the entire cast of Season 4 who inspired viewers across the country with their grit, charisma and bravery. We’re thrilled that this remains the most successful original series in SBS history.”
ITV Studios Australia chief content officer Beth Hart added: “’Alone Australia’ continues to prove the power of great casting, extraordinary storytelling and a format that pushes people to their limits. We’re incredibly proud of what the cast and production team have achieved in Season 4.”
From Mediaweek