Watch: Former Love Island Malta contestant injured on Love Island Games

Malta’s former Love Island contestant Nicola Gauci Borda-Warr was injured after a heavy exercise ball hit her head while participating in an international competition. 

The 23-year-old is currently in Fiji, participating in the Love Island Games, a spin-off of the popular reality dating series Love Island. The show features former contestants, known as ‘islanders’ from across the globe returning to a villa to compete in different challenges.

Nicola was one of the show's finalists in the first Love Island Malta season back in 2023

Aired on Tuesday night, Nicola was competing in a one-on-one battle with Belgian islander Garbi Denteh. The pair had to throw heavy balls onto their opponent’s side in a set limited time. 

Nicola Gauci Borda Warr was communicating to paramedics after she a heavy exercise ball was hurled at her head. Photo: Facebook

At one point, Denteh accidentally threw the ball at Nicola’s head, knocking the Love Island Malta star to the ground, with the camera panning to the shocked faces of the other competitors watching on the sidelines. 

The game came to a sudden end as paramedics rushed to Nicola, who was seen pleading to continue the game. The staff escorted her off the set, and host Ariana Madix revealed to the rest of the cast that she was unable to continue.

Nicola was participating in Love Island Games.

She is now out of the contest. Posting on social media on Wednesday afternoon, she thanked her followers "for all the messages and love" following the incident.  

According to social media posts, Nicola was making waves on the season of Love Island Games, and was described by viewers as "the sweetest girl ever to go on Love Island".