A professional mermaid who could not swim when she first took on the role has saved a scuba diver’s life after finding him unconscious at sea. Originally a dancer, Elle Jimenez, 33, now works full time as a mermaid, performing aquatic shows and teaching people to swim with a monofin – or mermaid’s tail – and training them in vital safety and rescue skills.
Elle was swimming off Catalina Island, California, USA, in October when she found the diver without a pulse and foaming at the mouth. Springing into action with the help of her team, Elle, who lives with her boyfriend, Darren Leonardi, 34 - with whom she works to film underwater content - and their son, Oliver, 11, towed the diver to shore where he was given CPR for 10 minutes before he started breathing again.
Elle said: “There is a misconception about mermaids, I don’t think people realise just how trained we are in lifesaving skills. I have never had to perform a real rescue before, only in practice drills, so for me, this incident solidified that our training is vital. I was very glad to hear that the diver is now okay.”
