21-year-old Stavros Floros was injured during a break in filming Survivor Greece. Photo: Survivor Greece
Spearfishing can be dangerous, and not just for the fish. Not long after an Australian spearfisherman was bitten by a shark while partaking in the pursuit, a contestant on Survivor Greece was gravely injured after being struck by a boat in the middle of a spearfishing session.
Stavros Floros was spearfishing off the coast of Saona Island in the Dominican Republic when the accident occurred. The 21-year-old was a contestant on Survivor Greece, the country’s home-grown version of the long-running reality competition show. As the Toronto Sun reports, Floros was “diving without a surface marker buoy in an area frequented by tourist vessels” when he was struck by a boat. Floros endured severe injuries from the craft’s propellor, including a partial amputation of the left leg and “significant trauma” to his right ankle.
“Following our initial announcement regarding the serious accident involving a Survivor contestant in the Dominican Republic, and out of a sense of responsibility toward the public and, above all, toward the contestant himself, we consider it necessary to clarify the exact circumstances under which the incident occurred,” wrote Survivor Greece production company AcunMedya in a statement. “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.
“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.
“The contestant remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition and is out of danger.”
According to the Sun, the incident has prompted the suspension of the program’s broadcasts on Greek television.
