Posted on 06/12/2025 10:17:39 AM PDT by V_TWIN
BOCA GRANDE, Fla. — A 9-year-old girl was snorkeling in Boca Grande, Florida, when she became the victim of a shark attack.
Leah Lendel was about four feet from her mother when the incident happened, WBBH reported.
The attack happened on Wednesday around noon, USA Today reported.
Nadia Lendel said that Leah submerged to snorkel, then came up and screamed. That’s when she saw her daughter’s arm covered in blood, her hand mostly torn off at the wrist.
Nadia Lendel was holding her two toddlers and she tried to take them to shore so she would be able to help her daughter.
Lendel’s husband was also in the water and was snorkeling with the couple’s two other children and tried to swim to Leah, who had walked to the shore by herself, WBBH reported.
The family told NBC News that she was “most likely in a state of shock.”
The Boca Grande Fire chief said Leah’s injuries looked consistent with a shark attack, but there was no shark when first responders arrived.
Leah was transported by helicopter to a Tampa hospital with her father and had a six-hour surgery to repair the damage. Doctors were able to put her hand back together.
They used arteries from her leg to get blood flowing in the hand, and installed pins in the bones. She is able to move her fingers and will be in the hospital for about a week for doctors to monitor her progress, WBBH reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at actionnewsjax.com ...
Shark week is on the way
Sunday, July 20th to Saturday, July 26th
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Shark ping!
In other words, the alleged perp fled the scene.
That poor little girl!.........................
There was a story today about the largest Great White shark ever recorded heading toward the beach near Jacksonville.
> Doctors were able to put her hand back together. <
Heroes are not found on basketball courts or baseball fields. But they sure can be found in emergency rooms.
Can you imagine coming to work one day and ending up doing this? Real heroes for sure!
the photograph is a porpoise dorsal fin, not a shark LOL idiot newspaper editor
Why the dolphin fin in the photo?
Once you enter the sea you are no longer at the top of the food chain.
Or the woods for that matter
Amen!
In the USA, in the Woods, you have a right to be armed.
It puts us at the top of the food chain.
Which is it, a Dolphin or a porpoise?
I’m from Jax and there are a lotta sharks off Jax beach.
No-No look again...
It’s clearly an underfed Porcupine Goldfish !!!🐡
I didn’t realize there were so many expert ichthyologists on FR.
Been in Duval since 1969...back in the day we would routinely find sharks teeth on the beach the size of a shot glass....and many times bigger than that.
Not so much anymore....I blame the yankee tourists finally stumbling onto the First Coast.
Ask flipper...or Elon Mush would probably know.
LOL !!! I’m an amateur compared to the Grandson who is now 8 and at 5 years old He knew every Shark and Whale and could identify them at a glance including the Extinct Sharks like Megaldon and I don’t think it’s going to be long before He starts on Fresh Water.
He’s slowed down a bit due to starting School and He can’t spend as much time on account of the other information being thrust upon Him.
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