Below the the fingernail, not above. If it severed the finger at the first joint, that would be above the fingernail. Below the fingernail there is only skin, and not much of that.
I see now. So, there are two ways to read this: Either she lost the fingertip to where the fingernail stops. Or she lost just the fingernail. Two very different stories.
If she lost the fingertip, then the article should’ve read “at the first knuckle,” to be more clear.
Then I considered the nature of today's press. If it was just skin it explains the schools reaction.