A former participant from the Greek version of the popular 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 has filed a $100 million lawsuit in a Florida court for damages.
Floros, now 22, was part of Season 13 of Survivor Greece when the accident occurred during a spearfishing activity off the coast of the Dominican Republic on May 11. Court records obtained by CBC News reveal that Floros was struck by a tourist boat, causing severe injuries to his legs.
After the accident, Floros was taken to a local medical facility and later transferred to a Miami hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries and spent 61 days recovering. Graphic images of Floros post-accident were released by TMZ, illustrating the extent of his injuries.
Skai TV, the broadcaster of Survivor Greece, temporarily halted the show and offered support to Floros, despite the production being the responsibility of Turkish company AcunMedya. However, Floros claims he did not receive adequate assistance from the production team.
In his statement to TheWrap, Floros expressed his disappointment with the lack of support, stating, “I want people to know that they didn’t look after us, that I haven’t received the proper support from the production company.”
The lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, targets AcunMedya, AcunMedya Global, Acun LLC, Turkish businessman Acun Ilicali, and the parent company of Skai TV as defendants.
The legal documents include testimonies from Floros and other contestants, outlining the sequence of events. The lawsuit alleges that the production failed to implement safety measures despite knowing about the heavy boat traffic in the area.
Malliaros, another contestant, recounted that Floros was struck by the boat while fishing, emphasizing the lack of protection for contestants. The incident has left Floros with life-altering consequences, prompting him to question the purpose of risking his well-being for a reality show.
Floros’s legal team, from the firm Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, filed the lawsuit in Florida, citing AcunMedya and Ilicali’s connections to the state and highlighting the businessman’s involvement in decision-making related to contestant safety.
In addition to Survivor Greece, AcunMedya is responsible for producing various international editions of the franchise in countries such as Turkey, Mexico, Romania, and Germany.
Efforts to reach AcunMedya for comments on the matter prior to publication were unsuccessful.