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A nine-year-old girl named Leah Lendel survived a shark attack while on vacation in Boca Grande, Florida, on Wednesday (June 11). The incident occurred around noon on Shore Lane, where Leah was swimming with her family when the shark bit her hand. According to Boca Grande Fire Chief C.W. Blosser, the injuries appeared consistent with a shark bite. Leah was quickly airlifted to a local hospital for emergency surgery.
Leah's mother, Nadia, was only a few feet away holding her younger children when she heard Leah scream. Nadia rushed her toddlers to safety while Leah's father, who was snorkeling nearby, also brought two children to shore. Leah managed to walk out of the water by herself, where construction workers assisted by wrapping her hand in a towel. One of the workers, Alfonso Tello, reported seeing what seemed to be an eight-foot-long shark.
Leah underwent a six-hour surgery, during which doctors successfully reattached her hand by using arteries from her leg to restore blood flow. Pins were also installed in her bones, and while she still has open tissues, she can move her fingers. The family will remain at the hospital for a week for further monitoring.
Fire Chief Blosser noted that this was the first shark bite on the island in about 20 years, though there have been other incidents nearby. He emphasized that while such occurrences are rare, the presence of wildlife in Florida waters always poses a potential risk.