Hand Reattached After Shark Attack on Florida Girl
BOCA GRANDE, FL - A nine-foot bull shark nearly severed the hand of 9-year-old Leah Lendel while she was snorkeling with her family in Boca Grande, Florida, in June. In a remarkable medical feat,surgeons successfully reattached the hand after a six-hour operation,and Lendel is now recovering and regaining use of her hand.
The attack occurred on a sunny day as Lendel and her family were enjoying the water.her mother described a horrific scene, witnessing her daughter’s hand “flung out…just a stump,” hanging by a piece of skin with blood “squirting everywhere.” Family members and nearby construction workers quickly responded,applying a tourniquet until first responders arrived.
“I thought I was never going to have a hand again,” Lendel, now 10, shared, expressing a sentiment she initially held in the immediate aftermath. “but I still do.”
Five months later, Lendel’s hand remains wrapped in gauze, but she is making steady progress in rehabilitation, relearning skills like writing and even knitting.
While shark attacks are rare, Florida consistently reports the highest number of unprovoked bites in the United States and worldwide. According to the international Shark Attack File, Florida accounted for 14 bites in 2024, representing half of the total for the U.S.
Despite the traumatic experience, Lendel maintains a remarkably positive outlook. ”I’m totally not [afraid],” she said when asked about her feelings toward the ocean and sharks. “I love them even more.”
Those wishing to support leah Lendel’s ongoing recovery can contribute via her GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-leah-recover-from-shark-attack.
Related: Hawaii Shark Attack Survivor: ‘He Has the Best Attitude’ (video)
