Caught on Camera: A Dangerous Scuba Diving Assault
NBC News reports: “An environmentalist claims a reef collector tried to kill her by ripping away her air supply while submerged 50 feet underwater off the Kona Coast of Hawaii.”
According to NBC affiliate KHNL the diver, Rene Umberger, and others “were documenting damage to coral reefs when they came across the pair of divers who clearly didn’t want their picture taken.”
There have been disputes between reef fish collectors and environmentalist before, but this one crossed the line into criminal behavior.
HKNL reported about the incident, writing:
The video was taken off the Kona Coast last Thursday. The dive turned ugly when one diver darts over and rips off Rene Umberger’s breathing supply 50 feet underwater. The scene was captured on two cameras.
“This man needs to be arrested. I think this man needs to be arrested immediately for attempted murder,” said Rene Umberger, coral reef consultant and scuba diver.
Umberger, 53, was eventually able to get her regulator back in and breathe again. That’s when she captured the suspect make another threatening gesture with his arms toward her.
“I honestly thought he was coming back for a second attack,” said Umberger. “I got up on the boat and I said oh my God, someone just tried to kill me underwater.”
Umberger does believe she knows who the suspect was in the attack and is pursuing criminal charges.
You can watch a news clip, from KHNL, below.
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