A young girl has lost her hand to a suspected bull shark in Florida.
Leah, 9, was off Shore Lane near Boca Grande June 11 with her mother, father and four siblings. About 12:11 p.m she was near her mother about 10 to 15 feet from the shore using her snorkel kit.
Her mother Nadia was holding two toddlers wearing floaties about 4 feet away when Leah dove under water with her mask and came up screaming.
Nadia looked over to see Leah’s hand nearly severed, hanging on by threads of skin. She quickly took the two children to shore, as her husband and other siblings swam back to shore.
Despite her age, Leah bravely began exiting the water and was helped by Good Samaritans. Rescuer Raynel Lugo said he thought someone was drowning and entered the water to help. He said the shark came right toward them as he helped the girl out of the estimated 3 foot deep water.
Once on shore the wound was wrapped in towels to stem the bleeding.
Boca Grande Fire Department responded to the scene near the 2200 block of Shore Lane. Witnesses describe seeing the young girls bones being visible and EMS called in a helicopter to take the girl to the hospital. Official stated Leah is expected to survive.
A GoFundMe set up for the family stated that they do not have health insurance and would thankfull for any financial support.
“We’re thankful to Jesus for the quick response of emergency crews and the skill of the medical team, she is now stable and going through surgery – fighting hard for her road to recovery.
“While we are beyond grateful that Leah survived, the journey ahead will be long and full of physical and emotional healing. The Life Flight alone comes with an overwhelming medical bill, not to mention the ongoing care she will need: possible surgeries, physical therapy, counseling, and more,” the page states.
Two swimmers lost appendages to shark(s) on the same day in the Pan Handle of Florida last year.
A Elisabeth Foley, 45, was swimming near a sandbar off Watersound Beach June 7 with her husband when she was bitten. Foley sustained severe injuries to her midsection, bottom, and lost her left hand. Her husband assisted her out of the water, and she was treated on the scene before being transported to HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital in critical condition.
About 90 minutes later, another attack was reported near Seacrest Beach, roughly four miles from the first location. Lulu Gribbin, 15, and McCray Faust, 17, were both playing in waist-deep water on a sandbar when one of them was critically injured by a shark. McCray was attacked first when the shark grabbed her left hand and right leg. The shark then bite Gribbin on the foot. A man grabbed McCray’s arm and with the help of another person got her to shore.
Thankfully, several vacation doctors were on the beach and assisted with first-aid. McCray was airlifted to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Hospital where her left hand and right leg were amputated above the knee. Gribben was taken to Ascension Bay Medical Center and is in stable condition.
Another man was bitten by a shark in Florida this year.
An unidentified man appeared to have been bitten on the right hand April 12 by a shark at Everglades National Park on Saturday afternoon
The incident occurred just after 3 p.m. near Flamingo Lodge Highway in West Miami-Dade. It is possible the man may have been fishing, but details have been tough to find.
All locations have been marked on the Shark Attack Map.
