A devastating boating accident off the coast of the Dominican Republic has left a young Greek reality TV contestant with life-altering injuries, prompting local authorities to move forward with formal criminal charges against the vessel’s captain. The incident unfolded earlier this month near Saona Island, when 22-year-old Stavros Floros, a current competitor on the popular series *Survivor Greece*, was struck by the tourist boat’s propellers during an off-filming spearfishing excursion.
Local judicial officials confirmed that the case has been formally opened under Article 309 of the Dominican Penal Code, which covers offenses resulting in grievous bodily harm. As of this report, the captain remains in official custody, with a closed-door evidentiary hearing scheduled Friday in the capital city of Santo Domingo. At the hearing, judges will rule on whether the operator will continue to be held in pre-trial detention, or be released under bail or house arrest for the duration of the ongoing investigation.
Medical reports confirm Floros suffered a partial amputation of his lower left leg and severe soft-tissue and bone trauma to his right leg after the collision. AcunMedya, the Istanbul-based production company behind *Survivor Greece*, released a statement shortly after the accident confirming that the incident occurred outside of scheduled competition filming during a scheduled break. As of the latest update, Floros remains hospitalized in the Dominican Republic, where his condition is listed as serious but stable, and he is no longer considered in immediate critical danger.
In interviews with Greek media outlets, Floros’ family shared new details about the chaotic aftermath of the crash, and offered an update on the young contestant’s remarkable mindset. His mother told reporters that despite the severity of his injuries, Floros remains unwaveringly optimistic, saying he told her, “Mom, why should I be sad? I’m alive.” She also confirmed that a team of divers accompanying the group had placed standard surface marker buoys in the water to mark the location of the spearfishing group before the collision. Floros’ father added that the trip to the nearest hospital took approximately 40 minutes, during which his son suffered extensive life-threatening blood loss.
In the wake of the accident, both AcunMedya and Greek national broadcaster SKAI TV announced an immediate temporary suspension of *Survivor Greece* production and on-air broadcasts to honor Floros and allow for the investigation to proceed. SKAI TV has also committed to covering all costs associated with Floros’ ongoing medical treatment and future rehabilitation, as Dominican investigators work to piece together the full sequence of events that led to the crash.
Original reporting for this story was provided by Greek newspaper Tovima.