A 9-Year-Old Girl is the Latest Shark Attack Victim in Florida

A family vacation in Florida this week almost ended in tragedy after a girl was bitten by a shark.

One moment, the waters were calm and pleasant when 9-year-old Leah Lendel was snorkeling with her family off the coast of Boca Raton, Florida; the next, they were filled with chaos when Leah was bitten in an apparent shark attack. Out of nowhere, a shark appeared and bit Lendel’s hand off. Luckily, nearby beachgoers sprang into action and saved the little girl’s life.

Life-Saving Response

According to News Channel 8, a witness named Raynel Lugo watched the attack go down and ran to help without a second thought. “We saw the shark rushing in the water, it was right there, right behind her,” said Lugo to the news outlet. “We were trying to get her out… it was still chasing her.”

Several people, including Lugo and a construction worker, rushed over to Lendel. Simultaneously, Lugo dialed 911. In a just-released recording of the call, he can be heard urgently asking the 911 operator to send help. “The shark bit the arm of the little kid,” Lugo replied to the inquiring operator.

Lugo went on to tell the 911 operator that he and others had managed to get the girl out of the water but that her arm was destroyed. Blood poured from the 9-year-old girl’s wrist, but she was fortunately still awake and breathing. In a coordinated lifesaving effort, the operator walked Lugo through the steps to stop the bleeding while first responders rushed to Boca Grande beach.

Surgery and Recovery

Thanks to the quick efforts of Lugo and first responders, Lendel was flown to a Tampa Hospital shortly afterward. There, she underwent a successful six-hour surgery during which surgeons were able to reattach her hand.

According to Lendel’s mother, doctors used specialized techniques to reattach her hand and restore its function. In the meantime, 9-year-old Leah will remain in the hospital for recovery. “They had to get arteries from her leg to the hand. Got the blood flow back to her hand. Install pins in bones. Still has open tissues. They will be monitoring her here for a week. But thank God she can move her fingers,” said Nadia Lendel.

In addition, the Lendel family released a statement regarding the nearly tragic incident. They thanked everyone on scene for their lifesaving response, as well as the doctors and nurses who managed to reattach Leah’s hand. They noted that, while Leah can’t feel most of her hand, she can move two of her fingers. The family asked that people keep them in their prayers while 9-year-old Leah recovers from the shark attack.

When asked about his role in saving the little girl’s arm, Raynel Lugo demonstrated instinctively heroic qualities. “I didn’t think at all,” he said. “The whole thing was: get the kids out of the water.”

Shark Attacks in Florida

According to marine biologist Deby Cassill at the University of South Florida, shark sightings often increase during the summer months. As she told News Channel 8, “They are hungrier this time of year, and anything moving or splashing will attract their attention.”

Cassill suggested that families and beachgoers should visit busier beaches. With enough activity on the shore, sharks are less likely to approach individuals in the water.

However, shark attacks are a constant problem in the waters around Florida. The state has one of the largest year-round concentrations of sharks. According to the ISAF Shark Attack Report, Florida counted 14 unprovoked bites from sharks in 2024.

Luckily for 9-year-old Leah Lendel, the quick thinking of nearby beachgoers like Raynel Lugo saved her hand and, potentially, her life.