A young man who once appeared on the Greek version of the popular TV show “Survivor” has taken legal action against the show’s producers following a severe boating accident that led to the amputation of his leg. Stavros Floros, aged 22, lodged a lawsuit in a Florida court seeking $100 million in damages. Floros was participating in Season 13 of Survivor Greece when the incident occurred during a spearfishing activity in the waters near the Dominican Republic on May 11.
According to court records reviewed by CBC News, Floros was struck by a tourist boat, resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee and serious 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 multiple surgeries and spent 61 days in recovery. Photos released by TMZ depicted the extent of Floros’s injuries post-accident.
Skai TV, the broadcaster of Survivor Greece, announced the immediate suspension of the show following the incident and offered support to Floros for his treatment and rehabilitation. However, Floros claims that he did not receive adequate support from the production company, 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, names AcunMedya, AcunMedya Global, Acun LLC, Turkish businessman Acun Ilicali, and the parent company of Skai TV as defendants. Floros and other cast members recounted the events leading up to the accident, highlighting the lack of safety measures despite the known risks posed by heavy boat traffic in the area.
Floros mentioned that the show’s format required contestants to engage in various activities, including fishing, without adequate protection or safety protocols in place. The incident occurred while Floros and another contestant were spearfishing early in the morning, with the boat collision happening shortly afterward.
Floros’s legal team from the firm Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman filed the lawsuit in Florida, emphasizing AcunMedya and Ilicali’s connections to the state and alleging that decisions affecting contestant safety were made from Ilicali’s Miami Beach residence. Additionally, Floros revealed that his decision to join Survivor Greece was influenced by the show’s history of filming in Florida and the promise of a luxury trip to Miami as part of the prize.
Despite attempts to reach AcunMedya for comment, no response was received by CBC News. AcunMedya is known for producing various international versions of the Survivor franchise in countries such as Turkey, Mexico, Romania, and Germany.