The year was 2004 ...
Ten years ago there were no reality shows about cooking - but Survivor-style show Treasure Island was the gift that kept giving for gossip columnists. Reality TV queen Julie Christie's show was into its third series and had a celebrity quotient that was sky-high.
The cast included eventual winner All Black Josh Kronfeld, former league star Brent Todd and his wife, world champ surfer Wendy Botha, socialites Aja Rock and the late Charlotte Dawson, model Nicky Watson, league player Matthew Ridge, True Bliss singer Joe Cotton and media personality Lana ¬Coc-Kroft. But the laughs were mixed with near-tragedy, when Coc-Kroft almost died after cutting her foot on a coral reef, and it became infected.
She was airlifted back to New Zealand and spent nine days in a coma and five days in intensive care.
Todd, 49, and Botha, 49, were the only married couple on the island. Within a year, his life and marriage had spun out of control. He wound up in a celebrity drug scandal, later pleading guilty to procuring cocaine. His marriage ended in 2005 and four years later he was found guilty of fraud. Todd served his sentence at Ridge's house and was later hired by his mate to clean cars.
These days, Spy hears Todd is in a much better place. He is living in Queensland and his heroic days of league are remembered more than said scandals - Todd is now a go-to guy for commentating on the sport.
