Heading into tribal council that night, Joe Anglim sensed he was vulnerable.

After two weeks competing on the 30th season of the reality TV show “Survivor” in 2014, he had proven to be the best athlete in the game, and three of his seven tribemates agreed he had to go.

Mr. Anglim had a pact — or alliance in “Survivor” parlance — with two other tribe members to vote another challenger out of the competition. That left his fate up to fellow contestant, Sierra Dawn Thomas.

“I remember it so clearly, the fear in his eyes and him being scared of going home,” Ms. Thomas said of Mr. Anglim on the day of the vote. “I kept reiterating that tonight, I’m not going to vote for you.”

But a few elimination ceremonies later, Mr. Anglim didn’t get that same assurance. Ms. Thomas wrote his name down on her ballot, the votes were tallied, and his torch was extinguished.