“Survivor: Africa” contestant Kym Johnson has died at the age of 79, according to her co-star, friend and season winner Ethan Zohn.
Zone, 50 years old, She announced the news on Instagram Monday, July 29th.
“Rest in peace Kim Johnson. It was a blessing to call you a friend and an honor to experience that final tribal council with you,” Zorn captioned a series of clips highlighting his and Johnson’s relationship during his season of Survivor.
“I’ll never forget that Planter’s Punch in your honor! ❤️,” he added, referencing the moment beloved by fans of the reality TV series.
Zorn’s post quickly drew an outpouring of tributes to Johnson.
“Survivor” season 44 winner Yum Yum Arocho wrote, “Rest in peace Kim J 🙏.”
One fan called Johnson “underrated,” while another thanked Zorn for “this amazing tribute.”
The cause of Johnson’s death is not yet known.
Johnson was a 56-year-old retired teacher when she began appearing on “Survivor: Africa” in 2001. She was a fan favorite throughout her season, and was only the third contestant in the show’s long history, as well as the oldest woman to compete on a season.
Johnson was a fierce competitor, winning a total of seven challenges and earning two exemption necklaces, one of which she won in the show’s final exemption challenge.
To earn her spot at the final tribal council, she beat Zorn and fellow contestant Rex van den Berg in a competition that involved balancing on a log while holding up the coveted immunity idol in one hand.
As the trio struggled to keep going, Johnson said she pictured herself holding a Planter’s Punch cocktail rather than an exemption idol.
Johnson lasted for more than three hours, making history as the oldest person to complete the challenge.
With this win, she set a new record, becoming the oldest woman to reach the final vote at Tribal Council, but Zone was declared the winner, as John was defeated by the jury in a 5-2 vote, coming in as runner-up.
She also received a less than desirable record in the final vote, becoming the first “Survivor” finalist to receive fewer than three votes from the jury.
“Without exception, you all made me feel important,” Johnson told her fellow contestants during her final speech at tribal council.
She added: “Each and every one of you have helped me to be the best I can be, so I’m leaving here as a huge winner.”
Despite many fans hoping for her to return, Johnson did not return for subsequent seasons of Survivor.
To date, she is the oldest woman to have competed on the competition show.
After her time on “Survivor,” the Oyster Bay, New York, native became an indoor tennis club coordinator and volunteered with the blind and hearing impaired.
