Two recruits who dropped out in the first episode of Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week have said that taking part in the gruelling reality show has taught them that they are actually happy to remain within their comfort zones and that it's okay to fail.
Anthony O'Brien, a 27-year-old taxi driver from Dublin and Russian-born Maria Tribucina, a 32-year-old Swords-based manager, spoke to RTÉ Entertainment about taking part in the nail-biting series which sees 28 civilian recruits put through their paces in an army-style selection course.
Maria said of her reason for applying: "I'm always the motivator for my friends and family, even on social media if I can motivate somebody, I'm really happy about that."
However, she admitted that appearing on the show "really did push my limits".
A friend of Anthony's appeared in the first series of the popular show and encouraged him to take part. He still wasn't prepared for what it entailed.
"My mate sent me the application form and said 'don't bottle it'. So I said 'I'll have a go of that'. It looked easier from the couch", he explained.
"You're literally on edge 24/7. You can't relax at all, not for a second."
The recruits were thrown in the deep end straight away when their bus was ambushed on the way to the base.
Maria said: "When we were getting off the bus, it was within the first minute, they said straight away 'get into the water'. You were drenched in the first few minutes!
"They told us to put our heads in the water and I couldn't because there were people everywhere around you and there was a massive rock in front of my face. One of the DSs (drill sergeants), Ger, literally picked me up by the jacket and threw me in the water. That was unforgettable."
"This is it. This is madness".
— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) February 14, 2020
Special Forces: Ultimate #HellWeek is back. Who will make it through Day 1 of the toughest reality show going. 🤬🥵️🔥 pic.twitter.com/Pm74XGQW06
The recruits were also challenged to do a bridge jump, with the added challenge of jumping into the freezing reservoir at night.
"It was absolutely terrifying", Maria said. "I think the bridge actually broke me because when you stand on top of the bridge and look down and it's pitch black, so you don't know if it's five metres, if it's 50 metres, am I going to die on the way down?"
She continued: "When I was falling I mentally expected to hit the water and there was no water and I kept falling.
"So I remember screaming my head off as I was in the water and then you had to pull yourself to the beach. I was half-laughing half-crying and one of the DSs (drill sergeants) said 'stop whinging Maria'."
A 12 metre jump into the freezing resevoir below. IN THE DARK. 👀
— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) February 15, 2020
Special Forces - Ultimate #HellWeek returns, Monday at 9.35pm. pic.twitter.com/iu69Rc4S36
Anthony's breaking point came from a psychological rather than a physical place.
"It was when I knew I wasn't going to be there until the end", he said. "I went in thinking I would be, and the minute the thought lodged, that was it, I was like 'where's the door'. I was planning it from the morning I woke up, I was like 'when am I going to get out of here?'
"I just knew there was no way I was sticking seven days of that. My life is way too comfortable outside, get me back there asap."
Maria said of the moment she knew she would be going home: "For me the bridge jump was an extremely difficult task to do, and I remember I was lying there afterwards and I just thought 'what am I doing?'
"Hell Week is all about mind over matter, as Anthony said - once you let the thought in, that you're not going to get through it, you might as well just pack up.
"When we went to the water and they said 'stick your head in the sand and rub the sand all over your head' I thought I'm too proud to do that. I'm happy I left when I did."
"IT'S A LOVELY DAY BESIDE THE SEASIDE ISN'T IT?!"
— RTÉ2 (@RTE2) February 17, 2020
Ultimate #HellWeek is back tonight and 💯madder than ever. 🤬 pic.twitter.com/6JAJ64fBR4
On what the taking part in the show has taught them, Anthony said: "That I enjoy my comfort zone. I wanted to get out of it but I've found that's exactly where I need to be."
Maria added: "For me I'm always challenging myself, and my friends and family know that I'm always trying to be the best that I can be and push my limits and push my boundaries, but I think from taking part in the show I've learned that it's okay to fail and you need to learn from your mistakes.
"It's ok to step out of your comfort zone but it's also okay to say 'look I've had enough'."
The second episode of Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week airs on RTÉ 2 at 9.35pm on Monday February 24.
