Nearly 150 racers who participated a Tough Mudder event last year are taking legal action after battling the effects of a nasty bacterial infection allegedly caused by the courses contaminated water.
The 2023 Tough Mudder race - which involves crawling, climbing and swimming - allegedly left about 350 participants with unexplained rashes, headaches, fevers and nausea.
But California attorney Elan Zektser is confident that the number of people who experienced these symptoms was severely understated.
The symptoms were caused by a bacteria called Aeromonas, which lives in water and infects people through open wounds, according to KRON4.
Tough Mudder racer Evan Goldsmith told KRON4: I developed a fever a really bad headache, started feeling really sick,
Nearly 150 former Tough Mudder participants filed lawsuits after a nasty bacterial infection caused rashes, fevers and vomiting
Aeromonas infections can cause rashes that may lead to worse infections and gastrointestinal disease
By the time I got home, it was very apparent that I needed medical attention and this was obviously not bug bites.
Another participant, Curtis Vollmar told ABC7 last year that he was covered in pimply red blister type things.
Zektser, who is representing the allegedly harmed participants, filed lawsuits on Tuesday against Tough Mudder and Spartan Race Inc., the races operator.
He told DailyMail.com: Tough Mudder knowingly and recklessly exposed its participants to a potentially deadly bacteria, all because it was easier and cheaper for them to use a particular water source.
They knew it could cause sickness, they knew it was dangerous and they simply turned a blind eye.
They also know that over one thousand people got sick and all Ive seen is absolute silence. Their actions are as disgusting as the water they exposed their customers to.
The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services in California warned last year that a parasite in mud called schistosomiasis trematode flatworm, or Staph, could have caused the rashes and illnesses.
The rashes caused by the water-born bacterial infection are very painful
Tough Mudder was founded in 2010 by two British Harvard post-graduates, Will Dean and Guy Livingstone
They said symptoms could include Swimmers itch, a Staph infection or an Aeromonas infection - which is mentioned in the race participants lawsuit.
Aeromonas causes ugly and painful rashes that can lead to more serious skin infections and gastrointestinal disease.
Many racers, including Goldsmith, were highly dissatisfied with Tough Mudders response to the situation.
Goldsmith told KRON4: An email chain with a bunch of people that got sick to the CEO, and there were some responses we were told that when we hear back from the department of public health.
We will let you know what their findings are, and they ghosted us. We never heard anything.
Tough Mudder said it was taking all necessary steps to fully investigate the matter.
The race was founded in 2010 by two British Harvard post-graduates, Will Dean and Guy Livingstone, according to Obstacle Racing Media.
Last year, nearly 350 reported becoming ill and getting rashes after completing the race. But attorney Elan Zektsey says that the figure is much more than 350 people
Many people were displeased with how Tough Mudder responded to the situation
The Tough Mudder website reads: Tough Mudder creates hardcore obstacle courses designed to test your all around strength, stamina, and mental grit.
With the most innovative 5-8 KM & 15+ KM courses and millions of participants worldwide to date, it is the premier challenge series in the world.
Some Tough Mudder obstacles and challenges include Electroschock Therapy 2.0 and Human Hamster Wheel.
Tough Mudder and Spartan Race Inc. did not immediately respond to the DailyMail.coms requests for comment.