Influencer Jessica Goicoechea lost consciousness after completing an apnea attempt on the Spanish entertainment show El Desafío. During the latest gala, she had to face what she herself described as "the most difficult" test, requiring immense mental preparation. After emerging from the water, she was disoriented and could not recall the course of events. The show's trainer, Juandi Alcázar, was forced to intervene immediately.

Dangerous Incident on the Show

During an apnea attempt that was supposed to last four minutes, participant Jessica Goicoechea lost consciousness. Trainer Juandi Alcázar had to quickly pull her out of the water.

Attempt Described as Masochistic

Before performing the task, Goicoechea publicly stated that it was a "masochistic" and extremely difficult attempt, requiring immense mental effort.

Consequences After Exiting the Water

After exiting the water, the influencer was disoriented and unable to orient herself. In an interview, she admitted that she did not know where she was, indicating severe physical exhaustion.

Context of High-Risk Program

The incident occurred during the broadcast of the episode from February 20, 2026. The show is known for extreme challenges, and in the same gala, participants also faced fire swinging and pole dancing.

During the recording of the Spanish entertainment show El Desafío, a dangerous incident occurred involving participant Jessica Goicoechea. The influencer, while attempting a free breath-hold underwater (apnea), lost consciousness and required immediate assistance from the show's trainer and safety observer, Juandi Alcázar. As reported by media, the attempt, for which Goicoechea had prepared through numerous training sessions, was supposed to last four minutes, but ended prematurely due to the participant's health risk. Apnea as a sport, also known as freediving, has a long history dating back thousands of years, when people dived without equipment for hunting or pearl gathering. Today, it is both an extreme sport and a training element for scuba divers and military special forces. Risks associated with prolonged breath-holding include brain hypoxia, loss of consciousness underwater (blackout), and barotrauma. After being pulled from the water, Goicoechea was completely disoriented. In material released by the station, the participant admitted: „Al salir no sabía ni dónde estaba” (After coming out, I didn't even know where I was) — Jessica Goicoechea. She also added that she felt "drained" and mentally exhausted, calling the challenge "masochistic". The incident occurred on Friday, February 20, 2026, and was noted by several Spanish news portals, which highlighted the extreme nature of the show's challenges.

The show El Desafío is known for testing the physical and mental limits of celebrities. In the same episode, as announced by producers, other participants such as Willy Bárcenas and Daniel Illescas faced tasks involving precise walking on glass panels and swinging over open fire. José Yélamo, meanwhile, was to perform pole dance routines. The incident with Goicoechea sheds light on safety issues in such entertainment productions, which for spectacle resort to increasingly extreme ideas. This is not the first case of controversy around reality shows; similar events have occurred in the past, leading to discussions about producer responsibility. The production has not yet issued an official statement on the incident, but trainer Alcázar, who oversaw safety, was praised for his quick reaction.Liberal media may emphasize the issue of producer responsibility for participant safety and potential exploitation of human psychology for ratings. | Conservative portals may present the incident as proof of the risk that adult participants in entertainment programs knowingly take, defending the freedom of television production.

Mentioned People

  • Jessica Goicoechea — Influencer and participant of the show El Desafío, who lost consciousness during an apnea attempt.
  • Juandi Alcázar — Trainer and safety observer on the show El Desafío, who intervened during the incident.
  • Willy Bárcenas — Participant of the show El Desafío, who in the same gala was to face the 'Desafío Glassduo' challenge.
  • Daniel Illescas — Participant of the show El Desafío, who was to perform the 'Columpio de fuego' (fire swing) trial.
  • José Yélamo — Journalist and show participant, who in the episode was to test his endurance in the 'Pole Dance' challenge.