Florida girl returns to beach after shark attack nearly severed her hand
Shark attacked 9-year-old girl in Florida
Lee County Sheriff’s Office body camera video shows how authorities responded when a 9-year-old girl was bitten by a shark. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
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The young girl who survived a shark attack in Florida returned to the beach as part of her recovery process.
The shark attack took place on June 12, 2025, off Boca Grande near Fort Myers, on the state’s southwest coast.
Leah Lendel was 9 years old when she was bitten during a snorkeling trip with her family. The bite nearly severed his hand.
“Coming here is kind of healing for me, because when I see this happening to me, sometimes I forget I even got a shark bite,” Leah said. WZVN-TV.
Leah Lendel, who survived a shark attack in Boca Grande nearly a year ago, returned to the area as part of her recovery process. (GoFundMe)
The attack happened 10 months ago and Leah still remembers the moment vividly.
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“See that black thing in the water? There it was,” Leah said, according to WZVN.
The officer’s body camera captured bystanders running for his life. The girl was airlifted for emergency surgery.
Leah Lendel, who was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital after the shark attack, underwent hours-long surgery while doctors worked to save her hand. (WTVT-TV)
Surgeons were able to successfully reattach his hand following the attack. Now 10 years old, Leah is still trying to regain her strength day by day.
“I can’t really play the piano right now and I can’t lift more than 8 pounds, but my therapist and I are working on getting my wrist strength back,” Leah told WZVN.
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Doctors at Tampa General Hospital worked to save the 9-year-old’s hand. (WTVT-TV)
The girl’s parents expressed how proud they were of their daughter’s resilience despite a painful experience.
“We thought it was going to be a 100 percent amputation. And so we were just praying. Of course, you know, we were hoping. But when you see something that bad, you know reality hits. It’s like, that’s just the way it is,” Nadia Lendel told WZVN.
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First responders provided medical aid to 9-year-old Leah Lendel, who was bitten by a shark. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
Despite the traumatic experience, Leah dreams of getting a snorkeling license and her mother remains nervous but supportive.
“He’s not afraid. He’s fearless,” Nadia said.
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Leah encouraged others not to let fear stop them from achieving their dreams.
“It’s really rare for sharks to attack a person and I would recommend not swimming in murky water,” Leah said.
