A 9-year-old girl, Leah Lendel, experienced a terrifying encounter with a shark while snorkeling off the coast of Florida near Boca Grande. The incident, which occurred around noon on a Wednesday, resulted in the young girl’s right hand being severely injured, almost severed at the wrist.
The aftermath of the incident was captured on police bodycam footage, showing medics attending to Leah, praising her bravery and strength as they prepared her for transport to the hospital. The footage, obtained by a local news outlet, also revealed the emotional turmoil of Leah’s mother, Nadia Lendel, as she recounted the horrifying event to the police.
Nadia, a well-known influencer with a significant following on Instagram, was snorkeling just a few feet away from Leah and her younger siblings when the shark attacked. She described the chilling moment she saw her daughter’s hand hanging, bloodied and injured. In a state of panic, she called out to her husband for help, unsure of who to grab first among her children.
Leah’s father, who was swimming a distance away, quickly swam to his daughter’s aid. With the help of bystanders, they managed to get Leah to shore and apply a tourniquet to her injured hand. A nearby worker, Raynel Lugo, who witnessed the incident, recounted the scene of panic and fear, with people screaming for help and a shark visible near the family.
Leah was airlifted to a hospital in Tampa, where she underwent a six-hour surgery. Despite the severity of her injuries, doctors were able to save her hand. Nadia shared on her Instagram that Leah was able to move all her fingers by Friday morning, calling it a “miracle.”
Leah’s recovery journey is expected to be long, involving extensive physical therapy to regain function in her hand, as shared by her uncle, Max Derinskiy. An online fundraiser has been set up to assist the family with medical bills. According to naturalist Rob Howell, the attack was likely from a bull shark, given the mating and “tarpon season” in the area, which attracts an abundance of fish, a primary food source for sharks.