Matthew Von Ertfelda

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Matthew von Ertfelda (born July 24, 1969 in Hong Kong) is known as a former contestant on the TV game show Survivor. Although born in Hong Kong, he later took up residence in Washington, D.C.

As the runner-up in the Amazon edition of Survivor (2003), he was one of the most memorable and colorful players in the game and became popular with the viewing audience. He had a strange fascination with his machete, which made almost everyone in the game question his sanity and social capacities. He performed so well at disgusting food challenges that Deena Bennett didn't even bother trying to challenge him at the end. He was also a world traveler, having gone from tracking cannibals in an uncharted area of New Guinea to studying the Mandarin form of Chinese at the Taipei Language Institute to graduating cum laude L'Ecole de Gastronomie Française Ritz-Escoffier in Paris (a gourmet cooking facility).

Having been perceived as socially awkward and in need of therapy, one thing he did very well, possibly better than any other Survivor alumnus up to that point, was gather food and provide shelter. Unfortunately, because Jenna Morasca had sent Rob Cesternino to the jury as its seventh member, it did not help his case. In fact, in a display of foreshadowing, Heidi Strobel indicated she would vote for Morasca no matter what while Butch Lockley indicated he would vote against Morasca no matter what. Lockley represented the only vote von Ertfelda received as the outcome of the million dollar vote was revealed on May 11.