He was left with neurological consequences.
News Colombia.
He Superior Court of Bogotá declared Caracol Televisión SA civilly liable for the serious damages suffered by Ángela Gisela Ordóñez Vinasco, a former contestant on the reality show El Desafío 2006, who was injured during an extreme test in the Dominican Republic. The decision, issued by the Sixth Civil Decision Chamber under the presentation of Judge Juan Carlos Cerón Díaz, orders the channel to compensate the victim and his minor son for the moral and physical damages caused.
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The ruling revoked a previous ruling by the 45th Civil Court of the Bogotá Circuit, which had exonerated the television station of all responsibility. The Court considered that Caracol did not guarantee the necessary safety conditions during the competition in which Ordóñez lost control of a bicycle and suffered a severe impact to the head. The accident, which occurred on July 18, 2006, left him with permanent neurological consequences and a loss of work capacity of more than 66%, recognized by Colpensiones in 2008.
The Superior Court of Bogotá declares the exoneration of liability clause in the reality show contract ineffective and condemns Caracol Televisión SA ➡️➡️ https://t.co/tCtHxVZ90l pic.twitter.com/huNCVgUlLU
— Superior Court of Bogotá (@TSB_Bogota) October 20, 2025
According to the ruling, Caracol Televisión did not comply with its duty of protection and foresight, by exposing the contestants to disproportionate risks without ensuring adequate preventive measures. In addition, the Court declared ineffective a contractual clause included in the program’s participation agreement, through which the channel attempted to exempt itself from any liability for injuries or accidents that occurred during recordings. The court concluded that said clause was contrary to public order, good faith and human dignity.
As part of the sentence, the television network must pay compensation of 40 million pesos to Ángela Ordóñez and an additional 15 million pesos to her youngest son as compensation for moral damage. The decision emphasizes that no contract can free a company from its obligation to protect the physical and mental integrity of its workers or participants, even when they sign voluntarily.
This ruling by the Superior Court of Bogotá becomes a powerful judicial precedent for the reality television industry in Colombia. According to the magistrates, producers and channels must implement strict security protocols and assume responsibility for any damage arising from their economic activity, especially in formats where there is obvious physical risk.
The case of Ángela Gisela Ordóñez, almost two decades after it occurred, revives the debate about the ethical and legal limits of extreme competition programs. For the victim, the decision represents a vindication of his rights after years of physical consequences, medical treatments and a long court battle. Caracol Televisión, for its part, has not yet officially ruled on the Court’s ruling.
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