Contestants on Netflix’s real-life Squid Game ‘suffered hypothermia and nerve damage after being stuck in painful stress positions for hours in freezing temperatures’ while filming

• Two contestants on show allegedly ‘suffered hypothermia and nerve damage’

Contestants on Netflix’s real-life Squid Game allegedly ‘suffered hypothermia and nerve damage’ because of the show.

Express Solicitors said two of its clients who were on the show ‘suffered injuries such as hypothermia and nerve damage… after being stuck in painful stress positions for hours in freezing temperatures’.

Express Solicitors boss Daniel Slade said: ‘Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did.

‘Now they have been left with injuries after spending time being stuck in painful stress positions in cold temperatures.

‘We have a case where someone complains of hypothermia. One had his hands turn purple from the cold.’

Contestants on Netflix ‘s real-life Squid Game allegedly ‘suffered hypothermia and nerve damage’ because of the show

Express Solicitors said two of its clients who were on the show ‘suffered injuries such as hypothermia and nerve damage… after being stuck in painful stress positions for hours in freezing temperatures’

The firm said the injuries occurred when contestants ‘had to stay motionless for hours in cold temperatures while filming’.

It added that it had sent letters of claim to Studio Lambert, meaning the production company is on notice that they may be taken to court.

Studio Lambert boss Stephen Lambert previously said: ‘Everybody had been told it was going to be arduous.’

Last week Mr Lambert told BBC News it took player welfare ‘terribly seriously’.

He said: ‘Everybody was warned that it was going to be cold, we took all the necessary steps to prepare them for that.’

A spokesperson for Squid Game: The Challenge said: ‘No lawsuit has been filed by any of the Squid Game contestants. We take the welfare of our contestants extremely seriously.’ 

MailOnline has contacted Express Solicitors and Netflix for comment.

A total of 456 players, the same as in the original series, took part in a bid to win the huge £3.63million prize money.

Competitors had flown in from as far as the United States and Australia for the show, which was being filmed at Cardington Studios, a former RAF base near Bedford.

Hundreds were eliminated in the first round and then stayed in bunkbeds at the studios, just like in the Korean series.

In the original series, hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children’s games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.  

Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s vice president of unscripted and documentary series, previously said of the upcoming reality programme: ‘Squid Game took the world by storm with [director Hwang Dong-hyuk’s] captivating story and iconic imagery.

The reality series will consist of 10 episodes which happens to be one more than the original dramatic series

Express Solicitors boss Daniel Slade said: ‘Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did’

‘We’re grateful for his support as we turn the fictional world into reality in this massive competition and social experiment. 

‘Fans of the drama series are in for a fascinating and unpredictable journey as our 456 real world contestants navigate the biggest competition series ever, full of tension and twists, with the biggest-ever cash prize at the end.’  

The reality series will consist of ten episodes – one more than the original thriller.

The TV production company behind the show Studio Lambert has previously been accused of allowing ‘inhumane’ working conditions and faced allegations of mistreating staff on previous reality shows.

Some of those working on the popular Gogglebox series described a toxic culture where staff worked excessive hours and were expected to go without breaks.

The trade union BECTU, which represents film production workers, received complaints from staff about the way they were being treated.

One member of staff told the union: ‘People have had enough. You don’t turn up to be screamed at for 12 hours a day.’

Bectu said they urgently requested a meeting with the company who are behind many contestant led shows, including ‘BBC show ‘Traitors and ‘Race across the world.’

Squid Game became Netflix’s most-watched programme in 2021, drawing in 142 million people in its first month – nearly double the previous record held by Bridgerton.

The Korean drama is also being praised with adding 4.4 million new subscribers, increasing Netflix global subscriptions to 213.5 million from 209 million.

It boosted the company’s profits to £1.1billion – nearly double the amount it took in during the third quarter of 2020.

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