‘Naked and Afraid’ star dies in crash

HONOLULU (KHNL/Gray News) - A survivalist who starred in the reality show “Naked and Afraid” has died in a car crash.

Sarah Danser had starred in Discovery’s “Naked and Afraid,” returned for an all-stars season of the show and mostly recently appeared in another reality show, “Fight to Survive.”

The 34-year-old was a master diver, boat captain, survivalist and self-described “pirate.”

Originally from Castle Rock, Colorado, family members said Danser had been living in Hawaii for about 12 years.

She lived part-time on a boat at Kewalo Basin and was known for her global adventures.

“Magical is the way to describe her. Sarah had this positive energy about her that just really filled the environment that she was in,” her brother Jake Danser said.

Honolulu police reported a crash occurred Sunday night in Kahala. According to police, a 59-year-old male driver was traveling eastbound when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a parked car.

Danser, who was a passenger in the car, was hospitalized in critical condition.

Her father and brother arrived at the hospital Tuesday and said she died later that day. They said she was wearing lei, scarves and bandanas given by her friends when she died.

“I actually saw how much of a difference she made in the lives of others,” her father Dan Danser said. “I think she saved my life once, diving in Indonesia.”

Family members said she survived breast cancer twice.

Friend and fellow diver, Tim Mason, said the community is heartbroken. He remembers their friends would host large watch parties for Danser and were inspired by her.

“She was smart. She went under the water. She found food, slugs and snails and stuff like that,” Mason said. “She knew what to do to survive and she did great.”

Danser worked at Island Divers Hawaii in Hawaii Kai and the company is working on an ocean memorial with her family.

The driver of the car was hospitalized in serious condition. A woman who was in the parked car at the time of the crash was hospitalized in serious condition. A man who was also in the parked car refused treatment.

Police said speed appeared to be a factor, but not drugs or alcohol.