Sparks, a former Sun Valley, Idaho, radio disc jockey, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and later earned a master's degree from the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism. TMZ was the first to break the news of the male contestant's death. Sparks couldn't be saved because of the brain damage that had occurred, the Web site said, citing an e-mail to alumni from a faculty member at Sparks' alma mater. A contestant on the show 'Wipeout' died on Wednesday, after completing the show's obstacle course, according to multiple reports. He was moved to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and underwent several brain surgeries, according to, which first reported Sparks' Nov. On-set medics examined Sparks, noticed he was short of breath and took him to a local hospital. Producers had him stop, Endemol said Thursday. The contestant, who has not been named, went into cardiac arrest after. 19 when he complained of knee pain, according to Endemol, the company which produces 'Wipeout' for ABC. A male contestant on the obstacle course game show Wipeout has died after completing a course on the show, EW has learned. Tom Sparks, 33, was participating in the first segment of an obstacle course Oct. LOS ANGELES - LOS ANGELES (AP) - A contestant who was hospitalized after competing briefly on the game show 'Wipeout' died two weeks later of a stroke apparently caused by a rare condition, his father said.

Wipeout tv show deaths