According to multiple reports, a contestant on ‘Survivor Greece’ was hit by the propeller of a tourist boat while diving during a break from filming.
WASHINGTON — “Survivor Greece” has been pulled off the air after a contestant suffered a life-threatening injury in “a location outside the game.”
According to multiple reports, contestant Stavros Floros was spearfishing during a break from filming in the Dominican Republic on May 10 when he was struck by the propeller of a tourist boat.
The Toronto Sun reported that the 21-year-old suffered the partial amputation of his left leg and significant trauma to the right ankle.
A statement posted Tuesday on the show’s official Facebook account said Stavros was now “out of danger” and remained hospitalized in the intensive care unit. The statement went on to say that a medical airlift to a specialized center in the U.S. was being considered when his condition allows.
“Our thoughts are with him and his family, who will soon be by his side,” the statement said.
SKAI Television, which airs the program, announced the show would be suspended until the incident was fully investigated.
“Despite the fact that the production of Survivor is carried out exclusively under the control and responsibility of Acun Medya, SKAI is closely monitoring the progress of the participant’s health and will contribute in every possible way to his treatment, as well as to any hospitalization and rehabilitation care required,” the station wrote.
According to the Toronto Sun, authorities and production company AcunMedya said Flores was “diving without a surface marker buoy in an area frequented by tourist vessels” when the boat “accidentally struck him.”
“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,” AcunMedya added in its statement.