Bear Grylls, the host of Discovery Channel’s popular television series “Man vs. Wild,” sustained an injury on Friday night during an expedition in Antarctica unconnected to his assignments for the show.

The 34-year-old British adventurer and writer injured his shoulder after suffering a serious fall. At the time of the accident, Bear Grylls was on a journey organized by Ethanol Ventures in support of alternative energies such as bioethanol, according to a statement released by Discovery.

The television program’s star was returning to the United Kingdom on Sunday so as to receive medical treatment, as well as an evaluation of his condition and the wound’s gravity.

The statement issued by Discovery explained that Bear Grylls’ recovery would be hurried by his family’s support and by his “strong religious faith.” The adventurer married Shara Grylls in 2000. The couple has two sons, Jesse and Marmaduke, while a third child is due in January 2009.

The Antarctica expedition Bear Grylls took part in was raising funds for Global Angel, an international charity that fights for the needs of children. The host of “Man vs. Wild” has been involved in the organization for a few years.

Bear Grylls won worldwide acclaim as soon as his first adventures were aired by Discovery Channel. Each episode of the series follows the adventurer across the globe, in various unpopulated areas that are far from resembling civilization. The former member of the British Special Forces strives to apply several survival techniques and discover inhabited territories in order to get back home.

Bear Grylls also published a book, “Man vs. Wild: Survival Techniques for the Most Dangerous Places on Earth.”