A former “Survivor Greece” contestant is taking his shot at justice after a horrifying accident nearly cost him his life.
Stavros Floros, who was 21 at the time, filed a lawsuit seeking more than $100 million after a tourist boat’s propeller struck him while he was spearfishing during filming in the Dominican Republic.
The accident left him with a partial leg amputation and severe injuries to his other leg. Now, Floros is accusing the show’s producers and broadcaster of putting contestants in serious danger.
Floros was spearfishing for food near Saona Island with fellow contestant Emmanouil Malliaros when a tour boat carrying roughly 20 passengers entered the area, according to the lawsuit.
Malliaros reportedly tried to warn Floros about the approaching vessel, but he couldn’t get out of the way in time.
The boat’s propeller struck both of his legs, partially amputating his left leg above the knee and causing serious trauma to his right ankle.
Floros said someone on the boat applied a tourniquet that helped keep him alive until he could get medical care.
In his lawsuit, Floros claimed the producers made contestants spearfish in open waters heavily trafficked by tourist boats, without basic safety measures such as spotters and warning markers. He also alleged producers were aware of prior near-misses and even a previous death in the area.
Floros Spent Two Months Recovering From His Injuries
After the accident, Floros was taken to a hospital in Miami, where he underwent multiple surgeries over a two-month stay.
Now having to live with permanent injuries sustained from the incident, Floros urged the court to grant him more than $100 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
This, he claimed, will help cover past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, and the life-altering impact of the accident.
For now, it is unclear whether the defendants are discussing an out-of-court settlement with Floros. What is known is that they have yet to admit any liability following the filing.
‘Survivor Greece’ Suspended Filming After Floros’ Accident
The lawsuit came months after “Survivor Greece” was suspended following the accident.
At the time, the production company, AcunMedya, released a statement attempting to clarify the circumstances surrounding the accident.
They claimed that Floros was “spearfishing outside the competitive process of the reality show,” a remark that seemed to place the blame on the former contestant.
The company also seemed to further absolve itself by saying that Floros received immediate assistance after the incident and that authorities were investigating what happened.
Boat Captain Faced Criminal Case After Floros’ Accident
The accident didn’t just spark a lawsuit; it also triggered a criminal case in the Dominican Republic.
Dominican authorities opened proceedings against the captain of the boat that struck Floros, treating the incident as a criminal bodily-injury matter under Article 309 of the Dominican penal code.
According to reports, authorities arrested the captain while investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
His arrest was described as a precautionary measure to ensure the captain would not try to influence the investigation or leave the country until the investigation was complete.
Floros Says He’s Grateful To Be Alive After Horrific Accident
As he continues his legal case against the show’s creators, Floros remains grateful to be alive.
A previous report revealed that his first words to his mother were that he was not sad about the incident because he was alive.
“I spoke to my son on a regular call. The hospital did not allow video calls. He is happy to be alive. He said to me: ‘Mom, what can I be sad about? I live! We will see everything else,’” said the reality star’s mother.
Up next in Floros’ lawsuit will be for the individuals he named in the suit to respond, either by admitting or denying the allegations, filing counterclaims, or asking the court to dismiss the case.
