EXCLUSIVERunning Bear! Topless action man Grylls sprints into the sea as he works on his latest Netflix show in Costa Rica
- Grylls is in the central American country filming Bear Hunt with Holly Willoughby
Bear Grylls and his son took a dip in the Pacific Ocean on Friday afternoon as the action man continues work for his latest Netflix show.
The former SAS trooper and his eldest child Jesse, 20, were seen sprinting down the black sand of a Costa Rican beach before diving into the sea at around 3pm local time.
Running topless and barefoot donning grey swim trunks the star showed off his toned physique before plunging into the water making the most of the sunshine ahead of an approaching thunderstorm.
Grylls, 49, is currently in the Central American country alongside Holly Willoughby, 43, to film Bear Hunt. Both are staying in a luxury four star hotel that can cost more than £1,000 per night.
The adventurer has been staying in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica for several weeks now and is becoming a well-known face to locals who told MailOnline he is ‘really friendly’.
The reality TV competition show, which is thought to be costing the streaming service £10million, will see Grylls track down 10 British celebrities in the jungle, testing their survival skills. Willougby will present the show in her first major gig since leaving This Morning last year.
![Bear Grylls and his son took a dip in the Pacific Ocean in Costa Rica yesterday afternoon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/09/85034189-13432643-Bear_Grylls_and_his_son_took_a_dip_in_the_Pacific_Ocean_in_Costa-a-18_1716022124383.jpg)
Bear Grylls and his son took a dip in the Pacific Ocean in Costa Rica yesterday afternoon
![The former SAS trooper was seen sprinting down the beach towards the water before diving into the sea around 3pm](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/09/85034183-13432643-The_former_SAS_trooper_was_seen_sprinting_down_the_beach_towards-a-17_1716022117131.jpg)
The former SAS trooper was seen sprinting down the beach towards the water before diving into the sea around 3pm
![Grylls was seen running topless and wearing grey swim trousers as he plunged into the sea](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/09/85034195-13432643-Grylls_was_seen_running_topless_and_wearing_grey_swim_trousers_a-a-16_1716022111991.jpg)
Grylls was seen running topless and wearing grey swim trousers as he plunged into the sea
![Grylls has been in Costa Rica for several weeks now, while filming Bear Hunt alongside Holly Willoughby](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/09/85034185-13432643-Grylls_has_been_in_Costa_Rica_for_several_weeks_now_while_filmin-a-15_1716022106161.jpg)
Grylls has been in Costa Rica for several weeks now, while filming Bear Hunt alongside Holly Willoughby
![The adventurer has become known by the locals who told MailOnline he was 'really friendly'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/09/85034187-13432643-The_adventurer_has_become_known_by_the_locals_who_told_MailOnlin-a-14_1716022099796.jpg)
The adventurer has become known by the locals who told MailOnline he was 'really friendly'
It is unknown for definite who will be taking part in the survival programme that is set to air in 2025, however, former Spice Girl Mel B, former Wimbledon champ Boris Becker and Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas are all rumoured to take part.
Locals told MailOnline that the group had been filming in the vast mangroves in the area as well as off the lush white sand beaches off the Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo.
The five star hotel, which is surrounded by crystal clear waters and has villas costing more than £20,000 per night, is known for attracting celebrities from all over the world - including Beyonce and Willow Smith.
It is unknown exactly how many of the 10 rumoured contestants have touched down over the past month in the country that borders Nicaragua and Panama.
Rugby legend Danny Cipriani, Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas and daytime TV presenter Steph McGovern, all form part of the suggested cast.
Ted Lasso star Kola Bokinnil, interior design presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and rapper Big Zuuand Saturday’s singer Una Healy are also thought to make an appearance.
Disgraced former Wimbledon champ Becker, who is also rumoured to be in the show, was spotted earlier this week taking a dip on the same beach as Grylls.
The former world tennis number one, 56, lay on the hotel’s beachfront sun loungers alongside his finacee Lilian, 33, who showed off her incredible physique in a black crop top and tight leggings.
Another rumoured contestant - Leomie Anderson - last night shared snaps of herself at a Vogue party in London after making a return from Costa Rica where she was spotted earlier this month.
The stunning model shared pictures on Instagram posing in a red bikini and a tiny blue mini skirt on the same beach Grylls and Becker have been spotted on.
The 31-year-old had a scare after finding a scorpion in the bathroom of her hotel room. Staff reportedly said it would take 15 minutes for them to save her so she trapped the creepy-crawly under a glass instead.
![Grylls is staying at a luxury four-star hotel which offers rooms for as much as £1,000 per night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/08/84887199-13432643-The_gruelling_endurance_show_is_set_to_star_former_Spice_Girl_Me-a-8_1716017294384.jpg)
Grylls is staying at a luxury four-star hotel which offers rooms for as much as £1,000 per night
![The Netflix show will see Grylls hunt celebrity contestants, who will be eliminated from the programme if and when he finds them](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/09/85017785-13432643-The_Netflix_show_will_see_Grylls_hunt_celebrity_contestants_who_-a-12_1716022079079.jpg)
The Netflix show will see Grylls hunt celebrity contestants, who will be eliminated from the programme if and when he finds them
![Security is tight, with reports that Netflix have spent £1million on measures to protect Willoughby and Grylls for the adventure show, with staff members surrounding their hotel](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/09/85017801-13432643-Security_is_tight_with_reports_that_Netflix_have_spent_1million_-a-13_1716022090390.jpg)
Security is tight, with reports that Netflix have spent £1million on measures to protect Willoughby and Grylls for the adventure show, with staff members surrounding their hotel
Lottie Moss - an OnlyFans star and Kate Moss’ sister - shared a video of herself dancing on TikTok from a hotel in the country’s capital, San Jose earlier this week.
It is unclear if Mel B has already been out to Costa Rica as she is due to speak in Manchester last week, while Leomie last night shared snaps of herself at a Vogue party in London.
The show will see Grylls hunting down the contestants and when he finds them they will be eliminated from the programme.
There has been a notable security presence and a number of staff members surrounding the hotel where the presenters are staying in the Guanacaste province.
Last month it was reported that Netflix had spent £1million on security to protect Willougby for the adventure show that is set to air next year.
It was claimed ex-special forces and former military guns for hire have been brought in to protect Holly from drugs gangs and kidnappers while in the Central American country which has seen a massive uptick in gang and drug violence in recent years.
The once peaceful nation saw a record number of homicides in 2023, and a 66 percent increase in murders from 2013 to 2023.
Bear Hunt marks Willoughby’s first major presenting gig since she quit This Morning last year, just months after her scandal-hit co-star Phillip Schofield left in May 2023.
Willoughby pulled out from presenting an episode of This Morning on October 5 last year just moments before going on air after police informed her bosses about an alleged 'kidnap and murder' plot.
She then stepped down as host of the ITV flagship daytime show on October 10 last year, saying on social media it was an 'honour to just be part of its story', but that she felt 'I have to make this decision for me and my family'.
The budget for the Costa Rican adventure show is said to be £10million after the protection budget.
'Netflix are investing huge sums in creating a show which can rival ITV's I'm a Celebrity, by bagging big names and choosing a tropical location,' a TV insider previously told The Sun newspaper.
'But keeping Holly and everyone fully protected in Costa Rica is the priority. That means hiring specialist teams of guards, many of whom will be ex-military and special forces experts.
'They'll also need specialist vehicles, safe accommodation and a secure location in which to film. That won't be straightforward or cheap in a country which has a very luxurious tourist trade combined with a dangerous underbelly.'
Grylls was spotted last week paragliding onto a black sand beach while his eldest son Jesse, who is a musician, took a solo skydive above the coast.
The action man was also spotted almost naked on the palm-tree filled beach as he enjoyed the £55 massage on the beach, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.
![Bear Grylls is out filming with Holly Willoughby, who has not presented since Dancing on Ice in January](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/18/08/84802489-13432643-The_full_rumoured_line_up_for_Holly_Willoughby_s_Netflix_show_ha-a-7_1716017288701.jpg)
Bear Grylls is out filming with Holly Willoughby, who has not presented since Dancing on Ice in January
Since arriving in Costa Rica at the end of April Grylls had been getting regular rub downs at the beach side parlour after discovering it when scouting locations earlier this year.
‘The massage ladies love him and say he’s a very friendly and down to earth guy,’ a source told the paper. ‘Bear speaks a bit of Spanish and they know a little English so that’s how they communicate.’
Yet earlier this week those working in the area told MailOnline Bear had stopped his regular massages over fear of being pictured again.
Meanwhile Willoughby, who has not presented since Dancing on Ice in January, appeared relaxed on a beachfront as she walked down the beach in sunglasses, trainers and a band t-shirt.
Earlier this week it was revealed that celebrities starring on the show had been warned over the wildlife dangers posed while they film the show.
Those apeparing on the gruelling adventure show were reportedly told to look out for rabid vampire bats and deadly snakes as they begin filming in the central American countries’ rainforest.
A medical team is also on standby at all times of the day and night to ensure the welfare of the stars on the show.
‘The Bear Hunt is not for the faint hearted and all the celebrities who have signed up know they're going to be heading into the wild where it's teeming with animal nasties,’ a source said.
A telly source teased the upcoming show is 'set to be a huge hit' and the streaming giant is 'ploughing loads of money into it' with intentions to already plan a second series.