A pair of teens were excited to head to Mexico for a fun trip together before they went off to college. The trip took an unbelievable turn when one of the 18-year-olds was approached by a 12-foot crocodile.
The incident happened just before midnight at the Marriott resort in Puerto Vallarta. Kiana Hummel and her friend decided to go for a late-night swim, but they didn't even make it into the water before the crocodile approached. The crocodile moved quickly to attack Kiana, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. At one point, the crocodile dragged her in, under the water, but she fought her way back.
If you've ever had to get medical attention in another country, you can imagine how difficult the coming stretch of time was for Kiana. Bystanders who saw the attack ran for help.
"It was most definitely one of the craziest, scariest things I've ever experienced," Sarah Laney, one of those bystanders, told ABC 7.
"Honestly, I will never forget it when the crocodile's head came above water. I just went into shock."
Sarah watched Kiana keep her calm, even as the 12-foot crocodile dragged her under the water. She hit the crocodile to get it to let go of her right leg, which eventually worked. She almost got away, but the crocodile then grabbed her by the left ankle.
"I just remember saying, please don't leave me," Kiana recalled.
"And I didn't think I was getting out that second time. That was just really bad."
Thankfully, everyone around helped get Kiana free from the animal's grasp.
Kiana is lucky to be alive after the attack. She suffered extensive muscle and tissue damage all the way to the bone. Luckily, she did not break any bones or lose any limbs. Currently, she's unable to walk.
Kiana's mom learned of the attack after a FaceTime call. She jumped on a plane to Mexico from San Francisco.
"I'm on the phone with her, she's yelling, 'get me an ambulance, get me an ambulance to the hospital,'" Ariana Martinez recalled.
"It took them forever."
It took 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. They demanded thousands of dollars before even administering treatment.
"The safety and security of our guests and associates are our top priority, and we can confirm that appropriate signage, as well as night patrolling and red flags were and are properly in place," Marriott spokesperson Kerstin Sachl addressed in a statement.
"We review our plans and procedures often and work closely with the appropriate authorities on an ongoing basis. Our staff is trained in how to respond to safety matters appropriately. We encourage all guests to be vigilant for their safety."
The signage indicated in the statement was unlit, and it only stated the warning in Spanish. Many who witnessed the incident and rushed to the scene after felt that the resort should have been issuing verbal warnings to guests.
"Until that moment, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought a crocodile was on that beach. Ever," Sarah said.
A GoFundMe page was started by one of Kiana's friends. The funds will help Kiana with medical expenses and navigating her first semester of college while recovering from her injuries. Thus far, it's raised $8,000.
