BALTIMORE – Gabe Ortis will survive in Fiji, but he represents Baltimore on CBS’s long-running reality show.

Ortis is a castaway in “Survivor 47,” which premiered Wednesday.

The 26-year-old radio talk show host is competing with other contestants on the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji.

“I was born and raised in Baltimore City,” Ortis said. “I’ve been here my whole life and have no intention of leaving anytime soon.”

“It was everything”

He spoke to WJZ about his experiences and what he learned about himself.

“It was everything,” Ortis said. “It was the most difficult, stressful, scary, exciting, rewarding and fun experience of my entire life,” Ortis said.

Ortis could not reveal the outcome, but explained that he is a socially savvy competitor who knows that if he is chosen, he can outsmart the other castaways.

“The thing about it is that you can’t buy anything,” Ortis said. “It’s not something that you can buy privileges into, for lack of a better word. There are 700 people from the history of the world who were cast on Survivor, and you either get the role or you don’t.”

Life changing experience

As we wait to see if his torch goes out, Ortis said the challenge was a life-changing opportunity.

“It is the greatest organized adventure a human being can experience on this planet,” said Ortis.

As we watch him overcome sleep deprivation and hunger, Ortis hopes the airtime he gets will send him a clear message.

“When people ask me, and I hope it’s shown on the show, I tell them I’m here for my city, I’m here because I want to be a representative of the city of Baltimore,” Ortis said. “When people think of Baltimore or hear about it, they say, ‘Oh yeah, Charm City castaway Gabe Ortis. I remember seeing him on the show. He was great. I’d love to check that place out sometime.'”