NEW YORK, NY 22 Jan 2002) -- In an exclusive NBC interview, Krishna Thompson, victim of a shark attack in the Bahamas last summer, put the blame for the incident directly on the shoulders of nearby shark-feeding dive operators - and the hotel that failed to warn him of the risk. "It's simple common sense", Krishna told NBC correspondent Katie Curic on the award-winning investigative news documentary "Dateline". "If you start feeding a shark, you are going to teach the shark a relationship between humans and food." The 34-year-old New York banker lost a leg, and very nearly his life, when he was savagely attacked on August 4, 2001 while swimming in just 5 ft. of water off the beach of the Our Lucaya Golf and Beach Resort in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Krishna and his wife Maria were visiting the Bahamas to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. "This was something that was preventable", Maria - herself an attorney - told Curic. The Thompsons have retained famed attorney Johnnie Cochran to explore a lawsuit against Our Lucaya, on the grounds that the hotel should have advised him that shark feeding operations were regularly conducted less than a mile from the beach where Krishna was attacked. Unexso shark feeding site "Shark Junction" - less than a mile from Our Lucaya family beach "If I knew there was shark feeding, I would have just gone to the pool", Krishna said. But he didn't know, and went instead to the ocean for a swim on the morning of August 4th at around 9:30. Soon, Krishna found himself fighting for his life, battling a large shark that was doing its best to separate him from his leg. "I just thought I was going to die right there." In a matter of seconds that seemed like hours, he was able to free himself from the sharks grip, but not before being dragged below the surface and severely shaken by the predator. Afraid the shark would attack again, Krishna "gave it a little Mohammed Ali one-two punch", then painfully dragged himself to shore where he collapsed into shock. He was airlifted to Miami that evening, but doctors could not save the badly mangled leg. | | When asked what the Thompsons hoped to achieve with the lawsuit against the hotel, Maria - herself an attorney - did not hesitate. "Hold them responsible - for acting carelessly". © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKCDNN Editor: The following copy and photos promoting shark feeding, shark petting and "heart-pounding adventure(s)" near the Our Lucaya Golf and Beach Resort are from the UNEXSO web site. | The Shark Feeder Program? This program is a UNEXSO exclusive! Wearing a chainmail suit, you'll hand-feed Caribbean Reef Sharks at Shark Junction! From the first day, you'll receive VIP treatment and get to know UNEXSO staff and key personnel. You'll receive hands-on training in the use of the chain mail suit and special shark feeding equipment as well as shark petting and handling procedures and shark behavior from our experienced shark feeders.  If you like heart pounding adventure and are really into sharks, this program is for you!
The 4 day adventure includes a personalized video, custom photo album, engraved wall plaque with photo. The Shark Feeder Program Guide, use of all specialized equipment and 5 dives. $2,495.00 Shark Feeder Program Plus: $1,495.00 CLICK HERE FOR RESERVATIONS |
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