A previous participant in the Greek version of the popular reality show “Survivor” is taking legal action against the program’s creators following a serious boating incident that led to the amputation of his leg.
Stavros Floros, who is now 22 years old, lodged a lawsuit in a Florida court seeking damages amounting to $100 million US. The incident occurred while Floros was competing in Season 13 of Survivor Greece, engaging in spearfishing off the coast of the Dominican Republic on May 11.
Based on court records obtained by CBC News, Floros was struck by a tourist boat, resulting in the severing of his left leg above the knee and causing severe injuries to his right leg. Following the accident, Floros was promptly taken to a local medical facility and later transferred to a hospital in Miami, where he underwent multiple surgeries and spent 61 days in recovery.
TMZ released graphic images depicting the aftermath of Floros’s injuries post-accident. Skai TV, the broadcaster of Survivor Greece, announced the immediate suspension of the show and offered support to Floros, despite the production responsibility resting with the Turkish company AcunMedya.
In light of the events, Floros claims that he did not receive adequate care and support from the production company, expressing his discontent with the situation. The lawsuit, filed in the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, names AcunMedya, AcunMedya Global, Acun LLC, Turkish businessman Acun Ilicali, and the parent company of Skai TV as defendants.
The legal documents include statements from Floros and fellow contestants detailing the incident. Allegations suggest that the production team did not implement safety measures or provide protective vessels despite the known high boat traffic in the area. Floros and another contestant were engaging in spearfishing activities when the accident occurred.
Floros’s legal representatives from the firm Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman filed the lawsuit in Florida, citing AcunMedya and Ilicali’s connections to the state. Floros mentioned being enticed to participate in Survivor Greece due to past seasons being filmed in Florida and the allure of a luxury trip to Miami for the winner. Additionally, it was noted that Ilicali visited Floros in the hospital and offered accommodations at his residence.
AcunMedya, the production company behind Survivor Greece and other international versions of the show, did not respond to CBC News’ request for comments.