'I didn't think I was getting out that second time': California teen, 18, describes moment she fought off a 12ft crocodile as was dragged under TWICE during a night swim at a hotel beachfront in Mexico
An 18-year-old woman was enjoying a night swim over the weekend near the Marriott resort in Puerto Vallerta, Mexico, when a 12ft. crocodile suddenly attacked her and dragged her underwater twice.
Kiana Hummel, who lives California's Bay Area, said she and a friend decided to go for a late-night swim when the croc jumped out of the water and grabbed her right leg.
As Hummel fought against the croc, hitting it as hard she could, she was almost able to break free from its bite.
But the croc then clamped down on her left again and pulled her back underwater.
'I didn't think I was getting out that second time,' Hummel told ABC 30.
Kiana Hummel, 18, was transported to a California hospital after surviving a crocodile attack
Hummel suffered extensive muscle and tissue damage during the attack
Hummel was enjoying vacation at the Marriott resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
A GoFundMe page was started to help Hummel, above, pay for her surgery and recovery
She continued to fight against the crocodile when a group of people came to her aid and freed her from the reptile's grip.
'Honestly, I will never forget it when the crocodile's head came above water,' said Sarah Laney, who is from St. Louis and witnessed the attack. 'It was most definitely one of the craziest, scariest things I've ever experienced.'
Hummel's mother, Ariana Martinez, learned of the attack over Facetime from her home in Marin County. She got on the next flight from San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta.
"I'm on the phone with her, she's yelling, 'get me an ambulance, get me an ambulance to the hospital,'" Martinez recalled of her daughter. "It took them forever."
An ambulance arrived about 45 minutes after the incident, according to Laney. Martinez told ABC 30 that the hospital demanded she pay thousands of dollars before administering treatment.
Doctors say Hummel will undergo surgery this week in California to repair extensive muscle and tissue damage.
Hummel, her mother and Laney think not enough was done by the hotel to warn guests that a crocodile could be in the ocean. They said they were not given a verbal warning and they only learned about a warning sign after the attack. They say it is small, mostly in Spanish and not lit up at night.
But Marriott spokesperson Kerstin Sachl confirmed the crocodile attack and said, '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.'
She added that the resort will review its safety procedures and encouraged guests to remain vigilant of warning signs at the beach.
Laney's friend wrote a review on Trip Advisor slamming the hotel for its lack of warnings.
''I understand you don't want to 'scare' guests, but the following day there should've been big YELLOW signs to warn of the attack...my group is TRAUMATIZED by this experience,' she wrote.
Eliam Estrada, a friend of Hummel's, started a GoFundMe page looking to raise $10,000 to help her pay for her hospital bills and recovery.
'This amazing and powerful woman managed to fight for her life and fight off this wild animal as it was attached to her lower legs, and also being dragged into the ocean!!,' Estrada wrote.