A young man who previously appeared on the Greek version of the popular reality TV show Survivor is taking legal action against the show’s creators following a tragic boating incident that resulted in the amputation of his leg. Stavros Floros, aged 22, filed a lawsuit in a Florida court seeking $100 million in damages. The incident occurred while Floros was participating in Season 13 of Survivor Greece, engaged in spearfishing off the coast of the Dominican Republic on May 11.
Court documents obtained by CBC News revealed that Floros was struck by a tourist boat, causing severe injuries to his legs. He was promptly taken to a local medical facility and later transferred to a hospital in Miami, where he underwent extensive surgeries and a 61-day recovery period. Distressing images of Floros post-accident were released by TMZ, illustrating the severity of his injuries.
Skai TV, the broadcaster of Survivor Greece, announced the immediate suspension of the show and pledged support for Floros’ treatment and rehabilitation. However, Floros claims that he did not receive adequate care and support from the production company, expressing his disappointment in a statement to TheWrap after filing the lawsuit.
The legal action, filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, names AcunMedya, AcunMedya Global, Acun LLC, Turkish businessman Acun Ilicali, and the parent company of Skai TV as defendants. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the production for failing to implement safety measures despite the known risks of boat traffic in the area.
Floros and other contestants described the events leading up to the accident, highlighting the lack of safety precautions during the fishing activity. Malliaros, another contestant, recounted the incident and criticized the treatment of cast members as mere entertainment by passing boats. The lawsuit also detailed the absence of safety measures and the delayed response from the boat following the collision.
Floros emphasized the significant impact the incident had on his life, questioning the sacrifices made for a television show. Despite sharing a title with the well-known U.S. series, Survivor Greece is an independent production. The legal proceedings highlight the alleged shortcomings of the production company in ensuring contestant safety.
Floros’ legal team, represented by Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, filed the lawsuit in Florida, citing the defendants’ ties to the state and their decision-making processes affecting contestant safety. The contestant’s connection to the show and the promises made, including a trip to Miami as a prize, were also outlined in the lawsuit.
AcunMedya, in addition to Survivor Greece, manages various international editions of the franchise in different countries. Efforts to obtain a response from AcunMedya regarding the lawsuit were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.