cial media personality Mike Holston, widely known as “the Real Tarzann,” has been hospitalized following a skydiving accident. The wildlife enthusiast, who commands a significant following for his animal interaction videos, shared the news of his injuries on Instagram.
In a Saturday post, Holston revealed he was lying in a gurney, sporting a bandaged right leg and a neck brace. He described the incident as a “Skydiving accident” and indicated he would likely be sidelined for several weeks. Despite being in considerable pain, he expressed gratitude for being alive.
Holston, who boasts over 16 million Instagram followers, shared a series of updates via his Instagram Story, offering glimpses of his recovery process from the hospital. In one video clip, he described experiencing intense chest pain for hours following the accident, stating, “I was fed up for like three hours. I couldn’t even breathe. My chest was killing me.”
He sought to reassure his fans, stating in a subsequent video, “What’s up family? Thank God all is well. They didn’t get me off this Earth today, but love you all, happy holidays.” Holston characterized the situation as “just another rough day in the office” and expressed his hope to reconnect with his followers soon.
This incident comes after Holston faced criticism in September for a video showing him chasing and wrestling a freshwater crocodile in Australia. Animal advocacy group Community Representation of Crocodiles (CROC) condemned the behavior as distressing for the animal and setting a dangerous precedent for handling wildlife without proper permits.
Bob Irwin, father of the late Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin, also voiced his disapproval, suggesting content creators who disrespect Australian wildlife should be removed. He emphasized that such actions, particularly when involving protected fauna, require specialized skills to avoid causing stress and physical harm to the animal, skills he believed Holston lacked.
