Tentacles in My Pool

On one of the hottest days in Phoenix, a photographer comes home after working a long day shooting weddings, to find her air conditioning unit is not working. Hoping a swim would help cool her off, she goes skinny dipping in her backyard pool. While doing laps, she notices what looks like a palm frond stuck in the pool skimmer. Thinking she'd clear the skimmer after her swim, she continues her laps. As she swims near the skimmer, a part of the palm frond curls around her ankle and tugs. She tries to kick it off, but it only grips tighter. Can she get to the pool steps and get away from the monster?