Following the death of reality TV contestant Gerald Babin during filming of a French version of 'Survivor', the show's doctor has committed suicide.
The TV series' production company confirmed on Monday that Doctor Thierry Costa had died in Cambodia.
Costa left a handwritten letter describing how he was affected by the media coverage following the death of the contestant.
"These past days, my name has been smeared in the media," the 38-year-old wrote in a suicide note published on Le Parisien's website, which he requested be made public.
He had worked as a doctor for 20 years, and had served as the staff doctor on hit reality show ''Koh-Lanta' for four seasons. He said he had a feeling that all his efforts were diminished by what he called misleading stories.
'Koh-Lanta' tests players' survival skills by putting them through a series of challenges and rewarding success with prizes and money. Babin, a 25-year old participant, died on 22 March after suffering a heart attack during the first challenge of the 2013 season.
The show was swiftly cancelled by French broadcaster TF1 and Adventure Line Productions (ALP), which produces the show, on Thursday filed a defamation suit against anyone who sought to exploit Babin's passing.
ALP also addressed the media in its statement, advising that "this tragic event should encourage those who accuse and comment indiscriminately to exercise responsibility."
Although Cambodian authorities declared Babin died of natural causes, French authorities have launched their own investigation into his cause of death, the Global Post reports.
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