Non-survivor accepts fate
GAME player Luke Toki says he has no hard feelings towards actor Pia Miranda after ruthlessly being ousted from Survivor Australia.
The 30-year-old, who has spoken often of competing for the much needed $500,000 prize money for his three kids, was blindsided by
Miranda in the semi final episode.
“I’ve been better, I got my head cut off just before the moment that I needed,” Toki said on the phone from Perth of his shock elimination ahead of tonight’s grand final episode. “It hits pretty hard but it is all good. I’ve got a wonderful life without the money and money does come and go. I am not one to be bitter at all.”
Toki’s sons – Lennox, 8, and Nate, 5 – are both on the autism spectrum while his six-month-old daughter Madison has cystic fibrosis.
As favourite to win the series, the mining technician had hoped to pay off his mortgage and spend the money on his family.
“I am looking past the money, everyone can do with the money,” said Toki, who was on the show as part of the Champions group after previously competing on Survivor in 2017.
“Because I’ve got special needs kids, of course it would help but that is a part of the game. Losing that money right in front of you, I could actually see that money sitting on my kitchen table and what I could have done with it but unfortunately that is the game and there is only one winner.”
Toki’s departure leaves Miranda, Harry Mills and Baden Gilbert as the top three in the competition.
He and Miranda forged a strong bond throughout the series and so her decision to follow her head over her heart by using her vote to send him home because he was the best player was a surprise.
“Pia is mentally tough,” Toki said. “Her cutting me off shows she didn’t play into the emotional side of it, which I was hoping she would. She used her head and chose the path that she thinks she will win. To go out by her hands not saving me, we will have to wait and see if it works out for her. I’d like to think I put my neck out for her on multiple occasions but in Survivor, it doesn’t work like a boomerang. I’ve got no hard feelings for Pia.”
Physically, Toki lost 14kg to an exit weight of about 82kg living on basic rations in Fiji.
“It takes it out of you the game,” he said. “I look like a different person if you look at me from day one to day 47.”