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Body cam video captures response to shark attack off Boca Grande that injured 10-year-old girl

Body cam video captures response to shark attack off Boca Grande that injured 10-year-old girl
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      ONLINE. >> WHAT SHE WOULD LIKE. >> TONIGHT WE ARE SEEING THE MOMENT FIRST RESPONDERS RUSHED TO SAVE A 10 YEAR-OLD GIRL ATTACKED BY A SHARK. WE ARE ALSO HEARING THE CHILLING CALLS FOR HELP. >> IF ANYONE INJURED BY THAT YEAH. GET THE START OF ARM FOR DO NOT ON THE ALTHOUGH GOT RIGHT NOW HOW TO LOCATE. SO DON'T NOW. >> TONIGHT, THE GIRL IS STILL RECOVERING IN A TAMPA TO CALL. WE HAS AN UPDATE ON HER CONDITION. MUHAMMAD. >> LEO WENDELL'S FAMILY SAYS THE FACT THAT THEIR DAUGHTER COULD EVEN MOVE OR HANDS IS A MIRACLE AFTER SHE WAS BITTEN BY A SHARK HERE IN THE BODY OF WATER OF BOCA GRANDE. QUICK THINKING BY FIRST RESPONDERS, GOOD SAMARITANS AND EVEN WITNESSES LIKELY SAVED HER LIFE. YOU'RE WATCHING THE MOMENTS AFTER A 10 YEAR-OLD GIRL IS ATTACKED BY A SHARK, THEIR SWEEDLER. YOU'RE BEING VERY BRAVE LEE IS BEING BRAVE AND COLE. VERY STRONG. >> FIRST RESPONDERS SIFTING HER FOCUS FROM THE BUT FOR LIA'S MOTHER, NADYA THESE MINUTES WERE NOTHING BUT PAIN. SHE'S VERY BRAVE. VERY STRONG. >> SHE'S DOING IT SO WELL. >> AND THEN WATCH. AS NADIA DESCRIBED THE MOMENT SHE REALIZED HER DAUGHTER WITH THAT, AND LIKE I LOOKED OVER WHAT SHE WOULD LIKE THAT. >> NADIA PANICKING, SCREAMING, BEGGING FOR ANYONE TO HELP LEAH AND HER KIDS COME TO END, THOUGH. >> BECAUSE OF HER INJURIES. A QUICK DECISION NEEDED TO BE MADE. COULDN'T REALLY SEE WELL ENOUGH. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME PRETTY MAJOR SURGERY. LEO WAS FLOWN TO TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL WHERE SHE IS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY. HER FAMILY SAYS LEA CAN MOVE TO FINGERS BUT IS UNABLE TO FIELD THE REST. ADLY BREWER WHO LIVES ON BOCA GRANDE SAYS THIS ATTACK HITS HOME. I CAN'T IMAGINE A 10 YEAR MY 10 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER GETTING BIT. >> MY DAUGHTER LOVES SHARKS. IT'S REALLY SAD. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING WORSE EXCEPT. THANKFULLY SHE'S STILL ALIVE. THE FAMILY SAYS THE DOCTORS WILL BE DOING ANOTHER PROCEDURE TOMORROW TO MAKE SURE SHE'S OK
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      Updated: 10:48 AM EDT Jun 13, 2025
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      Body cam video captures response to shark attack off Boca Grande that injured 10-year-old girl
      Gulf Coast News logo
      Updated: 10:48 AM EDT Jun 13, 2025
      Editorial Standards
      Leah Lendel, 10, was snorkeling off Boca Grande when she was attacked by a shark on Wednesday, leaving her hand severely injured and prompting a swift rescue effort.Her mother, Nadia Lendel, described the terrifying moments with a Lee County deputy who responded to the scene. Nadia described how Leah suddenly emerged from the water with her hand hanging and blood everywhere.Bodycam footage also captured medics rushing Leah into an ambulance as Nadia tried to stay calm and shared what happened to her daughter."I started screaming to my husband, yelling I needed to get out and grab the babies. Didn't know who to grab. Got the point, it was a shark," Nadia Lendel said, explaining her immediate concern for her other children while worrying about Leah. Alfonso Tello and his coworkers, who were working nearby, quickly intervened to help."We were at lunch and we heard someone screaming, and so that's when we got over, and they were crying and everybody was like in shock," Tello said.He and his team used a shirt as a tourniquet to stop Leah's bleeding."And we see the little girl crying. So when we see that little girl come out from the water with no hand, it was like something out, like, gets me," Tello said.Leah's family said doctors at Tampa General Hospital were able to reattach her hand, and she is now able to move some of her fingers.The hospital shared a statement from the Lendel family:"We want to say Thank You to everyone that is praying for our sweet Leah. We are thankful for the quick response of everyone that was on scene, the construction workers and residents that ran out to help and the first responders and to all the doctors/nurses that are doing everything to help our girl. Yesterday Leah had an extensive surgery on her hand (wrist & fingers). The doctors were able to get blood flow to her hand and fingers. She is showing some movement in two fingers but can’t feel the rest. The doctors will be doing another procedure tomorrow to see if there is anything else that needs to be done. The fact that Leah has all her fingers attached is already a testimony. From witnessing her wrist hanging on by just the skin, to have blood flow in all of her hand and fingers is truly a miracle.Please keep praying for our family, our God is a miracle worker."DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more.

      Leah Lendel, 10, was snorkeling off Boca Grande when she was attacked by a shark on Wednesday, leaving her hand severely injured and prompting a swift rescue effort.

      Her mother, Nadia Lendel, described the terrifying moments with a Lee County deputy who responded to the scene. Nadia described how Leah suddenly emerged from the water with her hand hanging and blood everywhere.

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      Bodycam footage also captured medics rushing Leah into an ambulance as Nadia tried to stay calm and shared what happened to her daughter.

      "I started screaming to my husband, yelling I needed to get out and grab the babies. Didn't know who to grab. Got the point, it was a shark," Nadia Lendel said, explaining her immediate concern for her other children while worrying about Leah.

      Alfonso Tello and his coworkers, who were working nearby, quickly intervened to help.

      "We were at lunch and we heard someone screaming, and so that's when we got over, and they were crying and everybody was like in shock," Tello said.

      He and his team used a shirt as a tourniquet to stop Leah's bleeding.

      "And we see the little girl crying. So when we see that little girl come out from the water with no hand, it was like something out, like, gets me," Tello said.

      Leah's family said doctors at Tampa General Hospital were able to reattach her hand, and she is now able to move some of her fingers.

      The hospital shared a statement from the Lendel family:

      "We want to say Thank You to everyone that is praying for our sweet Leah. We are thankful for the quick response of everyone that was on scene, the construction workers and residents that ran out to help and the first responders and to all the doctors/nurses that are doing everything to help our girl.

      Yesterday Leah had an extensive surgery on her hand (wrist & fingers). The doctors were able to get blood flow to her hand and fingers. She is showing some movement in two fingers but can’t feel the rest. The doctors will be doing another procedure tomorrow to see if there is anything else that needs to be done.

      The fact that Leah has all her fingers attached is already a testimony. From witnessing her wrist hanging on by just the skin, to have blood flow in all of her hand and fingers is truly a miracle.

      Please keep praying for our family, our God is a miracle worker."

      DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more.