The Summit Episode 3: A familiar face returns and one trekker claims the game is 'rigged' (2024)

Day five begins with mimosas in the sun and a dip in the river – but nothing stays this calm for long on The Summit.

Spirits are high as Phil celebrates surviving an elimination despite solely carrying the extra $250,000 in his backpack and Simmone steps up to lead the group through the day's hike.

Stream every episode of The Summit for free on 9Now.

However, the 11 remaining trekkers, with $869,000 of their prize money left, still have 132 kilometres to the top of the mountain. As host Jai Courtney says, "out here, things can change – fast".

Plus, they're completely unaware that they're being chased down... by a very familiar face.

Here are the biggest moments from Episode 3 of The Summit Season 2.

Sam returns as 'The Chaser'

Uh oh.

Season 1's Sam is back and he has a lot to prove: "I'm fitter, I'm faster, I'm harder, I'm stronger," he warns, adding he has unfinished business with The Summit.

Jai explains that Sam is four days behind the trekkers. His mission is to "chase them down, catch them and steal someone's cash".

Now that is a twist.

EXCLUSIVE: McLeod's Daughters star Simmone Jade Mackinnon on the 'worst two years' of her life

He will not be in with a chance of winning anything until he catches up with the group and takes someone else's share of the money. Yep, he's going to have to do a lot of running if he wants his redemption.

"I am here to get that money and I do not care who gets sent off this mountain to make that happen," he says.

"I'm going to be standing on top of that summit."

And just like that, he's off with a sprint.

The group are almost 50kms ahead of him, can he make up the distance?

EXCLUSIVE: 'Absolutely robbed': Sam's agenda as he makes shock TV return

Simmone sustains an injury and questions everything

While the group remain blissfully unaware that Sam is on their heels, they arrive at their next challenge.

They must make it across a river by balancing in pairs along two tightropes high above it – with nothing to hold onto except each other.

Their packs must also travel separately on a wooden platform. If their bags fall off and into the water below, the trekkers will have to travel all the way down the ravine to collect them.

Things get off to a rocky start when Sharksey and Simmone take on the challenge first.

They fail to get their packs onto the platform and instead both their bags tumble down into the river.

They then fall off the ropes and Simmone injures her hand.

"I'm in a bit of pain and I don't know what I've done," she says through tears.

"I want to keep fighting but I don't want to do any permanent damage to my arm. I don't want to end up in hospital or not being able to use the arm. I've still got to go home and I've still got to be a mum."

Simmone's stress culminates in a near-panic attack.

After the rest of the group makes it across, Mat returns to the start and accompanies Simmone across the ropes.

Lochie also retrieves her backpack from the river.

The group make it to their checkpoint and after a tough day, Simmone reflects on her "mind and heart" leaving the game during the challenge.

"They might go for me, being the weakest and the injured bird. I don't know how much time I've got left in the game," she says.

Sharksey leaves the mountain

After failing to make it across the ravine with Simmone, Sharksey claims the game is rigged.

He even confronts a producer about it.

"I'm not playing a fixed game. All the girls go through it easy. Everyone got through it easy but me. I feel like it's scripted," he says.

"I play poker professionally. S--t sticks out like dogs balls to me."

Sharksey says he is wasting his time because he is "already rich" and doesn't need the money. He tells production he wants his passport and a chopper so he can leave the mountain.

The trekkers watch on from the other side of the ravine with confusion.

READ MORE: 'Keeping me up at night': Phil pleads with teammates to give him a second chance in unseen moment from The Summit 2024

Mat crosses the tightropes alone and attempts to talk Sharksey around, but it is very clear that his mind is made-up.

"At the end of the day mate, you're a grown man. It was a waste of my time coming here too," Mat tells him.

A helicopter arrives and Sharksey is flown off the mountain and out of the competition.

The rest of the group think his decision is "extremely selfish".

Not only has he cost them $53,000 – but he has also cost them time.

With Sam still chasing them down, that is something they really cannot afford to lose.

The Summit airs Monday to Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Stream every episode of The Summit for free on 9Now.

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