Court date set for surfer Ross Clarke-Jones showdown with Survivor bosses
Big wave surfer Ross Clarke-Jones is not giving up in his battle against hit show Survivor Australia, with a court date set for a showdown with the show’s producers after he was injured when a rope snapped during a challenge.
Fiona Byrne
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A court date has been set in the showdown between big wave rider Ross Clarke-Jones and the producers of Australian Survivor over an alleged life changing injury the gutsy surfer sustained while filming the hit reality show.
Clarke-Jones, 54, is suing Endemol Shine Australia, which produces Australian Survivor for Channel 10, claiming damages, loss of past and future earnings, and medical expenses after he severely injured his ankle during a rope challenge on the show. He also claims he has suffered depression and anxiety as a result of the injury.
The two parties will face off in the Melbourne Supreme Court on August 9, 2021 should mediation not see the dispute settled earlier.
Clarke-Jones, from Phillip Island, was paid $25,000 to take part in the series, called Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders, which was shot in Fiji between April 29 and June 23 last year.
In May last year he took part in a challenge where contestants had to swing on a rope from one raised wooden platform to another. When it was his turn, the rope broke while he was in mid-air sending him crashing heavily to the ground and injuring the ligaments in his ankle.
He had to leave the show and return to Melbourne for treatment.
“The plaintiff is and has been since his injury totally incapacitated for his previous employment and claims past loss of earnings and future loss of earnings,” Clarke-Jones’s Statement of Claim read.
“The plaintiff also claims loss of opportunity in relation to competing for the prize money available on Survivor, and other professional big-wave surfing related events, awards and business opportunities.”
It is claimed the incident was caused by the negligence and/or breach of duty of Endemol Shine Australia Pty Ltd.
In a defence filed to the court, Endemol Shine Australia has denied “each and every allegation” that the injury was caused by negligence and/or breach of duty.
“Ross has nothing to say at this stage about the litigation,” Arnold Thomas & Becker partner Lee Flanagan, who is representing Clarke-Jones, said yesterday.
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