Thomas Gottschalk, 60, announced his retirement Saturday from a TV show, "Wetten, Dass?" ("Wanna bet?") which has been the most popular family programme in German-speaking Europe for three decades. Gottschalk said he could not continue as if nothing had happened after a contestant was left paralyzed in an on-air accident.

In the 192th show in December of last year, 23-year-old Samuel Koch attempted to jump over five oncoming cars using spring-powered stilts. He was struck by the fourth car, driven by his father, which left him lying face-down and motionless on the studio stage. He is now paralyzed due to the damage to his spinal cord and neck vertebrae and undergoing treatment in Switzerland.

Gottschalk hosted the most popular family program in the Germany for 24 years. The format, where celebrity guests bet on whether ordinary people can achieve unusual and difficult tasks, has proven an enduring one. The shaggy-haired star said he would finish up 24 years as presenter in summer after a last show, beamed from Mallorca to Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

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