When this 18-year-old girl decided to take a trip to Mexico, all she pictured in mind was having a relaxing vacation before college began. She had no idea that her getaway would include going head-to-head with a wild reptile and that her survival skills would go into overdrive whilst trying to escape the animal’s clutches.
Kiana and her friend were staying at the Marriott resort when they decided to go for a late-night swim in the ocean. Before even getting inside the water, the two of them saw a crocodile appearing and grabbing Kiana’s right leg. The teenager screamed for help as the 12-foot crocodile began pulling her underwater.
“It was most definitely one of the craziest, scariest things I’ve ever experienced,” a bystander, Sarah Laney, said. “Honestly, I will never forget it when the crocodile’s head came above water. I just went into shock.”
Sarah and her friends rushed to help Kiana, who remained calm even as the massive reptile was dragging her in.
Hitting the crocodile repeatedly, Kiana managed to get the crocodile to let go of its grip on her right leg. But just as she tried to escape, she felt the crocodile grabbing onto her 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.”
After much struggle, the beachgoers were able to get the crocodile to let go of Kiana’s leg and bring her back to safety.
Kiana’s mother, Ariana Martinez, soon found out about the incident over Facetime and later recalled, “I’m on the phone with her, she’s yelling, ‘get me an ambulance, get me an ambulance to the hospital.’ It took them forever.”
Ariana quickly got on the next flight from San Francisco and landed in Mexico to be with her daughter.
Not only did Kiana live to tell the tale, but she also came out of the unexpected incident without losing any of her limbs. However, the teenager cannot walk at the moment and still has to recover from the extensive muscle and tissue damage that goes all the way to the bone.
A recent Novato High School graduate, the California teenager is hoping to start her first semester in college soon but will need a fair bit of help.
“Kiana’s quick thinking, adrenaline, and the will to survive and live to tell this story is one to always remember,” said a GoFundMe page set up for her by her friend. “With this amazing second chance at life brings a long road to recovery, healing, and emotional trauma.”
The GoFundMe page is urging people to donate and help Kiana manage the unforeseen costs that have come with the incident.
“I know if the tables were turned Kiana would not hesitate to help or start a go fund me for anyone of her close friends or family,” her friend wrote. “Anything helps and I thank you in advance.”
Image Source – GoFundMe page