Professional Mermaid Attacked by Fake Rideshare Driver in New Orleans

A professional mermaid and former Muay Thai boxer suffered facial fractures and a concussion after an assailant posing as a rideshare driver attacked her on Canal Street in New Orleans.

The victim, identified as Luma, who performs as The Mermaid Atlantis on social media, was targeted around 5:40 a.m. Friday in the 1500 block of Canal Street, according to nola.com.

Luma had traveled from San Francisco to attend the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association conference and had been out in the French Quarter with friends when she decided to call a Lyft to return to her hotel. Although she was only a few blocks from her destination, the encounter turned violent when a black sedan matching the app’s description arrived.

“The driver… popped out of the car and tore my bag out of my hands,” Luma told nola.com.

Luma, a former EMT and domestic violence survivor, attempted to defend herself using her training as a professional boxer. After kicking the assailant away, she climbed into the driver’s seat and threw the man’s key fob across the street to prevent his escape while she attempted to contact the police.

The situation escalated as the attacker began a physical assault on Luma, according to nola.com.

“He fought like a brawler,” Luma told nola.com. “Not many people can hit me to the point I can feel it.”

The assailant punched the left side of her head while pulling her from the vehicle, repeatedly slammed her face into the concrete, and jumped on her head, nola.com reported.

After the attacker fled, Luma crawled several blocks down the street on her stomach, leaving a trail of blood, before managing to call 911. She remained unconscious at University Medical Center for a day and a half, nola.com reported.

New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officials stated they were unable to obtain a formal statement from Luma immediately following the incident due to the severity of her injuries, which included blunt-force trauma and a fracture to the bridge of her nose, according to public information officer Karen Boudrie.

Because of these medical complications, the police report is currently considered incomplete, nola.com reported.

As of Tuesday, the assailant had not been located and remains at large, according to the NOPD.

Luma is currently recuperating at her home in the Bay Area and anticipates it will take more than a month before she is medically cleared to return to diving. She expressed a desire for greater accountability from local law enforcement regarding such crimes.

“I don’t blame New Orleans in and of itself. I think the people and culture are beautiful,” Luma told nola.com. “I want to put pressure on NOPD to have a response, not only to my situation, but to every situation. I would like to see some good come out of this.”

The attack highlights a “faux-driver” scheme that has previously targeted victims in New Orleans, a tactic where criminals pose as rideshare drivers to intercept passengers. Luma shared her experience on social media in an effort to raise awareness about this specific method of robbery and assault.

Anyone with information regarding this crime or suspicious rideshare activity can contact the NOPD at 504-821-2222, Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111, or the relevant rideshare company, nola.com reported.