View source for Mein Mann kann (lost footage of near-drowning incident on German game show; 2012)

{{NSFL|discussion of a near-death experience}}
{{InfoboxLost 
|title=<center>Mein Mann kann (near-drowning incident)</center> 
|image=Meinmannkannincident1.png
|imagecaption=Alexander (left) during the challenge.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> 
}}
'''''Mein Mann kann''''' is a Sat.1 game show. Originally airing for four seasons from 2010 to 2013, it involved women placing bets that their male partners could fulfil a difficult physical or mental challenge within a given time limit, with the aim of winning €50,000. During filming for a Season 3 episode, two men were tasked to hold their breath underwater in a glass box for as long as possible. The challenge '''almost resulted in the drowning of one of the contestants'''.

==Background==
''Mein Mann kann'' was conceptualised in 2010 for Sat.1 by Red Seven Entertainment.<ref name="wunschliste">[https://www.wunschliste.de/tvnews/m/mein-mann-kann-sat-1-reicht-ungesendete-promi-ausgaben-nach ''TV Wunschliste'' summarising the original run of ''Mein Mann kann'' and its 2022 reboot (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref><ref name="bother">[https://www.bothersbar.co.uk/?page_id=5287 ''Bother's Bar'' reviewing a typical episode of ''Mein Mann kann''.] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref><ref name="meiden">[https://www.medienmilch.de/frischmilch/news/artikel/details/10870mein-mann-kann-nach-holland-belgien-und-daenemark-verkauft/ ''Medienmilch'' reporting on the show being internationally distributed (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref> First hosted by Britt Hagedorn and Harro Füllgrabe, the game show consists of four heterosexual couples. The women are given 100 poker chips each and wager bets on how successful their partner will be in a given challenge. Challenges can range from kicking footballs to break windows, demonstrating knowledge of cosmetics, and putting on high heels and subsequently navigating through an obstacle course. As the men are placed in a soundproof box, they cannot influence their partners' decisions.<ref name="preview">[https://www.wunschliste.de/tvnews/m/britt-und-sat-1-wollen-beweisen-mein-mann-kann ''TV Wunschliste'' previewing ''Mein Mann kann'' (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref><ref name="bother"/><ref name="meiden"/> Hagedorn remarked that the programme allowed couples to truly learn each other's skills and faults.<ref name="preview"/>

Failure to win these challenges will result in the couple eventually losing their chips and being automatically eliminated.<ref name="meiden"/> The competition will be whittled down to two couples; whoever wins the final game earns €50,000.<ref name="bother"/> Initially a modest ratings success in Germany,<ref name="bother"/> the show was soon distributed across Europe by SevenOne International, before making a more substantial impact in China.<ref name="seven">[https://sevenonestudios.com/itv-picks-up-my-man-can/ ''SevenOne Studios'' announcing ITV had commissioned a series of ''My Man Can''.] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref><ref name="meiden"/> However, an [[My Man Can (lost unaired episodes of cancelled ITV adaptation of German game show; 2012-2013)|ITV adaptation]] failed to materialise on British television.<ref>[https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a487208/mark-wright-melanie-sykes-relationship-show-my-man-can-axed-by-itv/ ''Digital Spy'' reporting on ITV cancelling ''My Man Can''.] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref><ref name="seven"/> Originally running from 2010 to 2013, a reboot emerged in 2022.<ref name="wunschliste"/>

==Near-Drowning Incident==
Several celebrity and other special episodes of ''Mein Mann kann'' were also broadcast.<ref>[https://www.dwdl.de/zahlenzentrale/31701/mein_mann_kann_ohne_promis_wieder_im_sinkflug/?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_term= ''DWDL'' summarising the success of ''Mein Mann kann'''s celebrity specials in comparison to ordinary episodes (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref><ref name="wunschliste"/> Among them was a programme featuring four expectant fathers, filmed on 19th September 2012 as part of Season 3.<ref name="bild">[https://www.bild.de/unterhaltung/tv/mein-mann-kann/sat-1-kandidat-bei-tauchwette-fast-ertrunken-26307388.bild.html ''Bild'' breaking the story of the near-drowning incident (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref><ref name="oe24">[https://www.oe24.at/leute/tv/mein-mann-kann-alexander-starb-fast-in-sat-1-tv-show/79296050 ''OE24''  reporting on the incident and providing a photo prior to the mishap (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref><ref name="rheinische">[https://rp-online.de/panorama/fernsehen/kandidat-ertrinkt-fast-bei-tv-show_aid-14087437 ''Rheinische Post'' reporting on the episode and the incident (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref> Following the elimination of their competitors, Holger and Alexander stood one challenge away from €50,000. It involved the pair diving three times into a submerged glass box;<ref name="welt">[https://www.welt.de/fernsehen/article109377580/Kandidat-wird-im-TV-unter-Wasser-ohnmaechtig.html ''Welt'' reporting onto the diving challenge and how the incident was the first to occur in that game (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref> in a best of three, whoever held their breath for the longest won the competition.<ref name="focus">[https://www.focus.de/kultur/kino_tv/kandidat-bei-tv-show-wette-fast-ertrunken-mein-mann-kann-auf-sat-1_id_2194903.html ''Focus'' reporting on the game and the incident (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref><ref name="bild"/> 26-year-old Alexander, a resident of Düren in the North Rhine-Westphalia,<ref name="abend">[https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/tv/tv-show-kandidat-wird-unter-wasser-ohnmaechtig-art-175088 ''Abendzeitung'' reporting on Sat.1 and Alexander's comments surrounding the incident (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref> proved victorious in the first round. But during the second, Alexander suffered health complications and reportedly began twitching according to eyewitness Daniel Faros. He required 15 minutes to recover, but because he was one round away from €50,000, insisted on continuing.<ref name="bild"/>

In the final round, Holger could only last two minutes before having to resurface. But what should have been cause for celebration for Alexander and his pregnant wife became anything but, as the man suddenly lost consciousness and began to helplessly inhale water into his lungs.<ref name="bild"/> In a statement published by Sat.1, Alexander admitted he had been overly confident in his breathing abilities and consequently fainted.<ref name="abend"/> Paramedics immediately swooped in to drag Alexander out of the box, where he was administered first aid by nurse Hubert Braun. This resulted in Alexander coughing out the water, saving his life. He soon made a swift recovery and so could celebrate his daring accomplishment and the €50,000 with his more-than-relieved wife.<ref name="bild"/><ref name="abend"/><ref name="oe24"/>

Following ''Bild'''s report, Sat.1 made a statement which contained additional comments from Alexander. A spokeswoman defended the show's safety standards, insisting Alexander had no threat of drowning because of the medical crew's presence.<ref name="abend"/> However, some sources report that Braun was merely an audience member rather than part of the official medical team, making his presence all the more fortunate.<ref name="focus"/><ref name="rheinische"/> The episode itself was broadcast two days later.<ref name="oe24"/> Regardless, it led to suggestions that Sat.1 might re-evaluate the viability of the diving challenge, a common game for ''Mein Mann kann''.<ref name="welt"/> Interestingly, this near-miss is seemingly somewhat obscure, with most lists documenting accidents on German television typically omitting it.<ref>[https://www.vip.de/cms/die-schlimmsten-unfaelle-im-deutschen-fernsehen-4128423.html ''VIP'' documenting cases of accidents on German television, notably omitting Mein Mann kann's near-drowning incident (article in German).] Retrieved 13th Aug '24</ref>  

==Availability==
Because filming did not ultimately end in tragedy, the episode itself was safe to air on German television.<ref name="oe24"/> However, the broadcast did not include the disturbing scenes, which ''Bild'' reported was at Alexander's request.<ref name="bild"/> Days later, Alexander confirmed that while he was happy to have the episode televised,<ref name="bild"/> he and Sat.1 agreed not to feature the incident in any capacity.<ref name="abend"/> Consequently, no footage nor images of the near-drowning scenes will ever be publicly released.  

==See Also==
*[[My Man Can (lost unaired episodes of cancelled ITV adaptation of German game show; 2012-2013)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
[[Category:Lost TV]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]