Six days, no food, one dream: Tecumseh’s Jeremiah Ing on his ‘Survivor’ castaway experience

Tecumseh's Jeremiah Ing reflects on his Survivor 49 experience. Photos and clips from the show provided by Paramount Express.

Despite eating earthworms, sleeping on a flooded beach and enduring six days without food, Jeremiah Ing from Tecumseh, Ont., says his time on “Survivor” was nothing short of a dream come true — the culmination of more than two decades spent watching the show with his dad.

“I started watching ‘Survivor’ with my dad when I was 14,” said Ing, 39, who appeared on “Survivor 49,” filmed in Fiji, before being voted out in the third episode of the season.

Ing’s love for the long-running reality show began as a family ritual and evolved into a lifelong passion.

“It was one of those things that me and my dad watched together growing up, and we just loved it,” he said.

“It’s a family show. People connect to it from all ages.”

That family connection carried into the experience itself. Ing said his parents joined him in Boston for the premiere and have watched every episode with him since.

“Part of what’s really cool about being on ‘Survivor’ is connecting and giving back to the community,” he said. “There’s a really big ‘Survivor’ community out there. I once felt very connected to players, and to actually be able to connect with them in real life was cool for me.”

What surprised him most was what viewers never hear: silence.

“When you’re watching ‘Survivor,’ you hear so much music — but when you’re out there, there’s no music,” he said. “When you’re at tribal, it’s crickets. You can hear each other breathe. You can hear Jeff [Probst] breathing.”

As for a strategy, Ing said he came into the game without a clear one.

“I wanted to go into the game being true to who I am in real life versus on the island,” he said. “It was more about adapting to all the different personalities, trusting my gut, and working with people I just met — while competing for a million dollars.”

The conditions, however, were brutal.

“We were part of a disaster tribe. For six days, we kept losing rewards and challenges. So I didn’t have anything to eat besides coconut and earthworms,” Ing recalled.

“It was the second-hottest season they’ve ever filmed. We didn’t have a shelter. We slept on the beach, and the tide came in the middle of the night. Our bodies were submerged in water,” he added.

“Crabs would crawl on you all night long.”

Even amid those hardships, the fan-turned-contestant said one of the most surreal parts of the whole experience was meeting “Survivor” host Jeff Probst.

“Jeff is like the king of reality television,” Ing said. “It was weird that he was asking me questions and saying my name. Usually I’m watching it on TV, and when he’s saying ‘Jeremiah,’ I’m waiting for somebody else to respond. But he’s talking to me.”

He described Probst as “such a caring person” who “really does care about the show and the cast members.”

Reflecting on the experience, Ing said “Survivor” taught him to trust his instincts.

“Just make sure you feel confident with your decisions,” he said. “Have that confidence to move forward with a plan.”

And for those thinking of applying, his advice is simple: don’t overthink it.

“I’m the most unlikely person to ever go on ‘Survivor,’” he said with a laugh. “When I told my family I was applying, they laughed in my face. I love comfort things. I hate the outdoors. I hate the sun. I hate the heat. But if I can go out there and go through the elements, anybody can. Just apply — and once you get on the show, figure it out.

“For 24 years, I’ve always wanted to be a castaway. I’m just so thankful that I had the opportunity.”