“Survivor Greece” contestant Stavros Floros sued series’ producers for $100 million on Thursday after an on-set spear fishing accident led to the 21-year-old needing his left leg largely amputated earlier this year.
The Miami-Dade County court filing, obtained and reviewed by TheWrap, claims that producers Acun Medya, Acun Medya Global, Acun LLC, Acun Ilıcalı and Greek broadcaster Skai TV knowingly put contestants in danger ahead of the May 11 incident and knew boats were a threat in unmarked diving areas but provided no meaningful protection.
“The Production knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, of the heavy and dangerous boat traffic in this area and of the risk it posed to cast members fishing and diving there, and nonetheless failed to take any corrective action,” the lawsuit claims.
Floros lost his left leg in the incident that saw him struck by a boat while spear fishing in the waters of the Dominican Republic production. The majority of his left leg was fully severed in the accident and never retrieved from the water. There was also physical trauma to the contestant’s right ankle, leaving him permanently disabled.
The lawsuit claims producers failed to take precautions, properly mark off boating areas and provide Floros with a reasonably safe place to work in addition to failing to provide him timely and proper medical care after the accident. It also claims that producers attempted to create a false record of the incident.
TheWrap first reported on the accident in May after “Survivor Greece” suspended production.
Production company AcunMedya said at the time that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.
“According to the information available so far, the accident appears to have happened when a tourist boat injured the contestant while he was spearfishing outside the competitive process of the reality show,” the company’s statement read. “From the very first moment, there was an immediate response to provide assistance and safely transport the injured contestant, while the competent port authorities are investigating the causes of the incident in order to fully determine the circumstances.”
It added: “The contestant remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition and is out of danger.”
