Only three recruits manage to pass the gruelling SAS Australia selection course

Survival of the fittest: Only three celebrities manage to pass the gruelling SAS Australia selection process following a shock elimination

While James Magnussen, Merrick Watts, Nick Cummins and Sabrina Frederick all finished the course on Tuesday’s SAS Australia finale, not all of them passed.

After reaching the end of a punishing challenge known as the ‘sickener’, the exhausted recruits then sat down to try and catch their breaths.

Meanwhile, the show’s DS (directing staff) convened to discuss who would pass the gruelling SAS selection course. 

Cutthroat: While (L-R) Sabrina Frederick, Merrick Watts, Nick Cummins and James Magnussen all finished the course on Tuesday’s SAS Australia finale, not all of them passed

‘This is it. Crunch time. We must now choose who’s passed this course and who hasn’t, it’s as simple as that,’ chief instructor Ant Middleton told the other DS.

After making a final decision, the DS returned to the recruits to advise them of the outcome. 

‘The course is now complete. During every single hour of every single day, every single task, we’ve been assessing you, nitpicking, ripping apart your personalities, trying to dig deep into who you are,’ began Ant, 39.

Worn out: After reaching the end of a punishing challenge known as the 'sickener', the exhausted recruits then sat down to try and catch their breaths

Worn out: After reaching the end of a punishing challenge known as the ‘sickener’, the exhausted recruits then sat down to try and catch their breaths

Final countdown: After making a final decision, the DS returned to the recruits to advise them of the outcome

Final countdown: After making a final decision, the DS returned to the recruits to advise them of the outcome

‘And that ultimate question that we ask ourselves, would we have you in our team? You’re stood here, so you succeeded in your own right, feel proud of that, but not all of you have passed this course.’

After announcing that James had failed to pass the course, Ant reminded the other three recruits that the course is ‘cutthroat’.

He then announced that Nick, Merrick and Sabrina had passed, prompting the ecstatic recruits to breathe a sigh of relief.

Out of the game: After announcing that James had failed to pass the course, Ant Middleton reminded the other three recruits that the course is 'cutthroat'

Out of the game: After announcing that James had failed to pass the course, Ant Middleton reminded the other three recruits that the course is ‘cutthroat’

Making the cut: He then announced that Nick, Merrick and Sabrina had passed, prompting the ecstatic recruits to breathe a sigh of relief

Making the cut: He then announced that Nick, Merrick and Sabrina had passed, prompting the ecstatic recruits to breathe a sigh of relief

As the full weight of what Ant had said sunk in, Sabrina, 24, began to cry as she embraced her fellow recruits and the show’s DS.

‘I have so much respect for the SAS, to embark on this and to pass selection, and for them to embrace me as one of their own is something I’ll never be able to explain how much that means to me,’ she said.

Cupping her hands over her face, an exhausted but elated Sabrina began to sob, after remaining stoic throughout the course.  

Elated: Merrick had earlier said that successfully completing the course would be the proudest moment of his life

Elated: Merrick had earlier said that successfully completing the course would be the proudest moment of his life