'Wipeout' contestant dies after show stunt

Tom Sparks, 33, died Nov. 5 following an appearance for a taping of ABC's "Wipeout" where he suffered a stroke.

According to The Wrap, Sparks was participating in the show's Japanese game show-style obstacle course when he began complaining of knee pain and shortness of breath. The producers told him to stop competing and he was taken to a nearby hospital. Spark was eventually transferred to Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where he underwent several brain surgeries.

However, Sparks' father Bill has told friends and family that Tom suffered from APS, or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, a disease that causes unnatural clotting of the blood, which may explain the stroke and brain surgeries. APS is not something that would come up in a routine physical, such as one you would undergo to appear on "Wipeout."

The family has asked for donations to be made to the APS Foundation of America in lieu of flowers.

Photo credit: The Wrap

Follow Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2It's general feed for all your movies, TV and celebrity news

Related Links
Gruesome details of Jasmine Fiore murder
Jasmine Fiore suspect Ryan Jenkins desperate for cash