Exclusive
Donna D'Errico says she KNOWS people are making fun of her quest to find
Noah's Ark ... but she doesn't care ... claiming she's willing to RISK HER LIFE to hunt for the biblical vessel.
The former "
Baywatch" babe finally returned home from Turkey last night ... where she
sustained several injuries to her face and body after a nasty fall on Mt. Ararat ... where the ark is rumored to be hidden.
"I'm just glad to be home," Donna said ... adding, "I found a lot of information."
When asked if she was in fear for her life, Donna replied, "Yeah ... I was."
But she explained, "I've just always wanted to climb Mt. Ararat and search for Noah's Ark ... and I know everybody thinks it's funny and it's a big joke and people don't believe in it ... but I do ... and I've wanted to do it ever since I was a kid."
Donna said she wasn't just hunting for the Ark ... she was also hoping to find Donald Mackenzie ... a fellow Ark hunter who went missing during his trip to Ararat a few years ago.
While she didn't find Donald ... Donna claims she refuses to give up her search ... and vows to plan her return trip as soon as possible.
Exclusive
Despite having her face busted up this weekend in Turkey ... former "
Baywatch" hottie
Donna D'Errico is determined to suffer through the pain and continue her hunt for Noah's Ark, TMZ has learned.
If you recall ... Donna
was badly injured this weekend near Mount Ararat in Turkey while searching for the Biblical vessel ... sporting cuts and bruises all over her face, arms and legs.
Sources close to Donna tell us ... the actress sustained her injuries during a "major fall" while hiking.
Despite the setback, we're told the actress still wants to finish out the final two days of the journey -- before flying back to the states.
The reason she's willing to power through it ... we're told a trip like this takes extensive planning, research and permit approvals ... and Donna doesn't want all that hard work to go to waste by leaving early.
Not only that ... we're told Donna will be going back AGAIN next month to continue the search.
Former "
Baywatch" babe
Donna D'Errico is recovering from some painful face injuries she suffered during an expedition to find Noah's Ark in Turkey.
D'Errico just released some photos ... in which the actress appears to be sporting multiple cuts and bruises around her mouth and cheek ... and a laceration on her leg.
It's unclear how Donna suffered the injuries.
Donna had been planning the trip to Mount Ararat for years ... claiming she's wanted to go hunting for the ark ever since she was a little girl.
Donna D'Errico is canceling her life-long dream quest to find
Noah's Ark because she fears if she makes the trip ... she might never return.
D'Errico announced her plans in January to head out on an expedition to Mount Ararat in Turkey -- where the Bible says the Ark came to rest -- something she's wanted to do since she was a little girl. She's been training to make the climb for the past 12 weeks and it's all been filmed for an eight-part documentary.
But now D'Errico is scrapping the plans, telling TMZ she now fears for her safety if she goes.
First, her hiking partner canceled because of death threats. Then, her guide (a local Kurdish man) "relentlessly attempted to talk [her] out of" going ... and eventually he jumped ship as well.
It's probably best she leaves the treasure hunting to the experts ... like Indiana Jones or The Goonies.
Some celebrities might try and play hard to get when it comes to trying to get a spot on the upcoming season of "
Dancing With the Stars" --
Lorenzo Lamas and
Donna D'Errico are not those celebs.
As TMZ first reported, Lamas and D'Errico
are both "in talks" to do "DWTS," but so far nothing is locked down. The "DWTS" website is taking viewer suggestions for who should make the cast ... and when he caught with them outside the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills yesterday, they each took turns lobbying to get on the show.
A little subtlety might work.
"
Dancing with the Stars" execs are currently locked in negotiations to bring a "
Renegade" and a "
Baywatch" babe to the ballroom next season ... TMZ has learned.
Sources connected with the show tell us
Lorenzo Lamas and
Donna D'Errico have been contacted by the DWTS people ... and are "in talks" about a possible deal.
We're told nothing is in stone yet -- but we're hearing both Lorenzo and Donna have "serious interest" in doing the show.
Meanwhile, ABC is already soliciting
casting ideas on their website -- and we're told DWTS staff is actually paying attention to the answers.
Former
Playboy Playmate Donna D'Errico is in a bad spot right now -- hospitalized with a VERY serious staph infection ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to D'Errico tell TMZ the former Baywatch star has been infected with
MRSA -- methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus -- which is very difficult to treat because it's highly resistant to antibiotics.
We're told Donna contracted the MRSA from a relative who was hospitalized in ICU.
D'Errico posted a status update on her Facebook page, saying, "Prayer request - this time for me - a serious medical issue has arisen. Thank you for any and all prayers."
We're told Donna is expected to be hospitalized for at least a few more days.
Donna D'Errico and Nikki Sixx were in court today to settle financial matters in their divorce, and one thing is clear: Donna just wants to be done with her ex.
Despite the fact that the judge expressed concern for Donna, both parties waived their rights to financial support.
The former couple did reach a settlement agreement on the rest of their finances, but that was not immediately released. The judge assured both parties that all matters related to their daughter, Frankie, would be kept confidential.
Afterwards, Donna told TMZ that she was just happy it was over and that she was in the process of writing an autobiography. Can't wait.
In her Playmate data sheet from 1995, former "Baywatch" star Donna D'Errico lists among her turnoffs "people who talk behind other people's backs" and "overly jealous people." She should have also listed "the undead."
Seems Donna doesn't deal well with haunted houses, ghosts and the paranormal. The soon-to-be former Mrs. Nikki Sixx strapped on a camera and went inside Waverly Hills Sanatorium, a derelict tuberculosis hospital where 63,000 people died during the "White Plague" epidemic. If that wasn't scary enough, she encountered a creature scarier than anything you've ever seen before -- Gary Busey!!!
The whole thing is part of VH1's new reality series
"Celebrity Paranormal." The first episode, which also features funnyman Hal Sparks, "Survivor" winner Jenna Morasca and Toccara from "America's Next Top Model," airs this Sunday night at 10PM on VH1.
Former 'Baywatch' beauty Donna D'Errico has filed for divorce from Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx after 9 years of marriage.
D'Errico is claiming irreconcilable differences and is seeking physical custody of their 5 year-old daughter Frankie-Jean and her 13 year-old son Rhyan from a previous relationship. D'Errico is requesting that the court give joint legal custody with child visitation to Sixx, and that spousal support and attorney fees be paid by Sixx as well.
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