A young man who previously participated in the Greek version of the popular reality show “Survivor” is taking legal action against the show’s creators following a devastating boating incident that resulted in the loss of his leg. Stavros Floros, now 22, has filed a lawsuit in a Florida court seeking $100 million US in damages.
The unfortunate event occurred during Season 13 of Survivor Greece when Floros, alongside another contestant, was spearfishing in the waters near the Dominican Republic on May 11. Court records obtained by CBC News reveal that 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 promptly taken to a local medical facility and later transferred to a hospital in Miami, where he underwent multiple surgeries and spent 61 days recovering. 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 despite production responsibilities lying with AcunMedya, a Turkish company. Skai TV offered assistance to Floros for his treatment and recovery.
However, Floros claims that the support promised was not adequately provided. In a statement to TheWrap after filing the lawsuit, Floros expressed his disappointment, stating, “I went onto a reality show and ended up with only one leg at 22 years old, having felt like I was slowly dying.”
The legal action, filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, names AcunMedya, AcunMedya Global, Acun LLC, Turkish businessman Acun Ilicali, and Skai TV’s parent company as defendants. Floros and other cast members detailed the sequence of events in court documents, highlighting the lack of safety measures during the fishing excursion that led to the tragic incident.
Despite the similarities in the show’s title, Survivor Greece and the U.S. version are not connected. Floros’s attorneys from Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman filed the lawsuit in Florida, emphasizing Ilicali’s ties to the state and his decision-making role, even regarding contestant safety, from Miami Beach.
Floros shared that his decision to participate in Survivor Greece was influenced by the show’s history of filming in Florida and the grand prize of a luxury trip to Miami for the “sole survivor.” He also mentioned a visit from Ilicali at the hospital and offers of accommodation at his residence, as per the lawsuit documents.
AcunMedya, in addition to Survivor Greece, produces various international editions of the franchise in countries like Turkey, Mexico, Romania, and Germany. Despite attempts to reach out to AcunMedya for comment, no response was received by CBC News before publication.