Former contestant Stavros Floros from the Greek version of the popular show Survivor has taken legal action against the show’s creators following a tragic boat incident resulting in the loss of his leg. The lawsuit, filed in a Florida court, seeks $100 million in damages.
During Season 13 of Survivor Greece, Floros, now 22 years old, was engaged in spearfishing off the coast of the Dominican Republic on May 11. Court records obtained by CBC News revealed that a tourist boat collided with Floros, leading to the amputation of his left leg above the knee and severe injuries to his right leg.
After the accident, Floros was promptly taken to a local medical facility before being transferred to a Miami hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries and spent 61 days recuperating. Graphic images of Floros post-accident were published by TMZ, showcasing the severity of his injuries.
Skai TV, the broadcaster of Survivor Greece, announced the immediate suspension of the show and extended support to Floros for his treatment and recovery, despite the production responsibility lying with the 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, stating that his life had drastically changed due to the incident on the reality show. The lawsuit targets AcunMedya, AcunMedya Global, Acun LLC, Turkish businessman Acun Ilicali, and Skai TV’s parent company.
The court documents include testimonies from Floros and fellow contestants detailing the lack of safety measures during the fishing activity that led to the accident. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the production team for not implementing safety precautions despite the known risks of high-speed boat traffic in the area.
Floros shared how the accident has impacted his life, revealing that the reality show experience had left him with lifelong consequences. The legal action taken against AcunMedya and Ilicali emphasizes their ties to Florida and alleges that critical decisions, including contestant safety measures, were made from Miami Beach.
Apart from Survivor Greece, AcunMedya is responsible for producing various international editions of the show in countries like Turkey, Mexico, Romania, and Germany. Despite attempts to reach AcunMedya for comment, there has been no response from the company at the time of publication.
