A family snorkeling trip in Boca Grande, Florida, turned into a nightmare when nine-year-old Leah Lendel was attacked by a shark, nearly losing her hand. Thanks to the quick action of her family and nearby construction workers, Leah survived—but her road to recovery will be long.
Leah was snorkeling just a meter below the surface, with her mother Nadia and two younger siblings only four feet away, when a shark—estimated at around 8 feet long, likely a bull shark—bit her right hand near the wrist. “I could see her hand hanging… and just blood everywhere,” Nadia told deputies.
As Nadia screamed for help and her father swam toward shore, construction workers nearby rushed to assist. Using a towel as a tourniquet and controlling the bleeding, they called emergency services. One worker recalled seeing “a shark right on top… walking outside with her hand out bleeding.” Their quick thinking was critical in saving Leah’s life.
Paramedics airlifted Leah to a Tampa hospital, where she underwent six hours of surgery. Doctors used arterial grafts from her leg and inserted pins to restore blood flow. By Friday, Leah was able to move all her fingers—a development her family and medical team called “a miracle.
Leah will remain hospitalized for an extended period and face intensive physical therapy, according to her uncle, Max Derinskiy. A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover her medical expenses. Despite the trauma, witnesses praised Leah’s calmness and bravery during the chaos.
Authorities believe a bull shark was responsible. These sharks are known for their aggressive nature and presence in shallow waters and freshwater estuaries. Florida leads the U.S. in shark bites, with 14 of 28 unprovoked attacks in 2024, though fatal incidents remain rare.
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