A young man who once appeared on the Greek version of the popular TV show “Survivor” is taking legal action against the program’s creators following a tragic boating accident that resulted in the amputation of his leg. Stavros Floros, now 22 years old, has filed a lawsuit in a Florida court seeking $100 million US in damages.
Floros was participating in Season 13 of Survivor Greece when the incident occurred while he was spearfishing with another contestant in the waters near the Dominican Republic on May 11. According to court records obtained by CBC News, Floros was struck by a tourist boat, leading to the severing of his left leg above the knee and significant injuries to his right leg.
After the accident, Floros was initially treated at a local medical facility before being transferred to a hospital in Miami, where he underwent numerous surgeries and spent 61 days recovering. Graphic images of Floros post-accident were published by TMZ, revealing the severity of his injuries.
Skai TV, the broadcaster of Survivor Greece, announced the immediate suspension of the show and pledged support for Floros, despite the production responsibility resting with Turkish company AcunMedya. However, Floros claims that he did not receive adequate care and support from the production team.
In a statement to TheWrap after filing the lawsuit, Floros expressed his disappointment with the lack of support from the production company, emphasizing the life-altering consequences of the incident at such a young age.
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 court documents contain testimonies from Floros and other contestants detailing the events leading up to the accident. Allegations in the lawsuit point to the production’s failure to implement safety measures despite being aware of the high boat traffic in the area.
Floros and his fellow contestant went spearfishing early in the morning, and the accident occurred while they were in the water, close to the shore. Malliaros, another contestant, recounted how the boat collided with Floros and the delayed response in providing aid.
Floros expressed profound changes in his life due to the incident, questioning whether it was all for a mere television show. Survivor Greece is not affiliated with the U.S. version of Survivor, which recently celebrated its 50th season.
Floros’s legal representatives from Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman filed the lawsuit in Florida, citing AcunMedya and Ilicali’s connections to the state. Floros claimed he was influenced to participate in Survivor Greece due to previous seasons being filmed in Florida and the promise of a luxury trip to Miami for the winner.
Efforts to obtain a response from AcunMedya regarding the lawsuit were unsuccessful at the time of publication. Apart from Survivor Greece, AcunMedya produces various international editions of the franchise in different countries.