Theo Campbell’s Eye Injury Sparks Champagne Safety Warning

Theo Campbell from “The Challenge” is warning about a hidden danger. A champagne cork accident left him partially blind. He shared his story with People ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The incident happened in 2019 at a beach club in Ibiza. Campbell is speaking out to prevent similar injuries. His warning is timely as many prepare to pop bottles for the holiday.

How a Celebratory Moment Turned Traumatic

The accident occurred during a champagne-spraying party. A woman was shaking a bottle to loosen the cork. She changed the angle by tucking it under her arm.

Campbell was walking past at that exact moment. The cork shot out and struck him directly in the right eye. He described the odds as a “one-in-a-10-million chance.”

He felt immediate impact but not severe pain. “It was like getting punched in the eye,” he told People. He soon realized the severity when he saw blood in his hand.

Campbell required emergency surgery that lasted seven hours. He woke up alone, unsure if his eyeball was still intact. After checking a mirror, he was relieved to find it was there.

A Long Road to Recovery and Lasting Impact

The injury required multiple surgeries over years. In 2022, he shared an update about having stitches removed. He had 14 stitches originally, with just two remaining at that time.

The damage to his vision is permanent. Campbell now lives with partial blindness in that eye. His experience changed his perspective on simple celebrations.

He stresses a crucial safety tip. Always point the bottle upward when opening champagne. A hole in the ceiling is far better than a hole in an eye.

He also advises bystanders to be cautious. Watch where others are aiming bottles during celebrations. A simple moment of awareness could prevent a life-altering injury.

Campbell’s story is a stark reminder that festive fun carries real risks. His championing of champagne safety aims to make celebrations safer for everyone. He hopes his warning prevents others from suffering similar permanent vision damage.

Thought you’d like to know

Q1: What exactly happened to Theo Campbell’s eye?

A champagne cork hit him directly in the right eye during a party. The impact caused severe damage that required multiple surgeries. He has sustained permanent partial blindness from the accident.

Q2: Can he see at all out of the injured eye now?

Yes, but his vision is permanently impaired in that eye. He has described living with partial blindness as a result. The damage from the cork strike was irreversible.

Q3: What is the correct way to open a champagne bottle safely?

Always point the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from people. Point it upward toward the ceiling, never horizontally. Keep your thumb over the cork while gently twisting the bottle, not the cork.

Q4: Why is a champagne cork so dangerous?

A cork can exit a bottle at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. This force is enough to shatter glass and cause serious injury. The pressure inside a champagne bottle is about three times that of a car tire.

Q5: Where did the accident take place?

The incident occurred at a beach club in Ibiza, Spain in 2019. It happened during a celebration with champagne spraying. Campbell was a bystander when the cork was launched accidentally toward him.

Q6: Is Theo Campbell still on television?

He has appeared on MTV’s “The Challenge” in the past. His recent public focus has been on raising safety awareness. He continues to share his story to prevent similar accidents.