A young man who appeared on the Greek version of the popular TV show “Survivor” is taking legal action against the show’s creators following a devastating boating incident that led to the amputation of his leg. Stavros Floros, now 22, has filed a $100 million lawsuit in a Florida court over the accident that occurred during his participation in Season 13 of Survivor Greece while he was spearfishing with another contestant off the coast of the Dominican Republic on May 11.
Court documents reveal that Floros was struck by a tourist boat, resulting in the severing of his left leg above the knee and significant injuries to his right leg. Following the accident, he was promptly taken to a local medical facility before being transferred to a hospital in Miami, where he underwent multiple surgeries and spent over two months in recovery. Graphic images of Floros post-accident were published by TMZ, depicting the severity of his injuries.
Despite Skai TV, the broadcaster of Survivor Greece, suspending the show and offering support to Floros, he claims in his lawsuit that he did not receive adequate assistance from the production company. Floros expressed his disappointment, 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 legal action, 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. The court documents include testimonies from Floros and other contestants detailing the lack of safety measures during the fishing activity that led to the accident.
Malliaros, another contestant, recounted the events surrounding the incident, highlighting the absence of protective measures despite the known risks posed by heavy boat traffic in the area. Floros was swimming near the shore when the boat struck him, resulting in life-altering consequences. The lawsuit also mentions Floros being influenced to join Survivor Greece due to previous seasons being filmed in Florida and the allure of a luxury trip to Miami as part of the prize.
Floros’s legal representation from Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman filed the lawsuit in Florida, citing ties of the defendants to the state and emphasizing alleged decision-making related to contestant safety made from Miami Beach. The legal action sheds light on the challenges faced by contestants on reality TV shows and raises questions about the responsibility of production companies in ensuring participant safety.
