Nearly a year after a shark nearly severed her hand while she was snorkeling off Boca Grande, then‑9‑year‑old Leah Lendel has gone back to the same stretch of sand as part of her long recovery. Her mother said the return visit was meant to confront the trauma head on and help rebuild Leah's confidence. Leah is still in occupational therapy and working on regaining strength in her wrist.
Leah told reporters she "can't really play piano now" and that she "cannot pick up more than eight pounds" while her wrist continues to heal. She stressed that she does not want people to be afraid of the ocean, just more aware of conditions, and suggested avoiding the water when it is murky. Those details were reported by CBS Miami.
How the rescue unfolded
The attack happened in June 2025 near the 2200 block of Shore Lane in Boca Grande. Construction workers on a lunch break saw what was happening and rushed in to help, wrapping Leah's wrist and working to control the bleeding until emergency crews could get there. She was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where surgeons carried out a lengthy reconstructive operation that involved repairing bone and tendons and grafting arteries to restore blood flow to her hand. Hospital officials credited the quick care at the scene, along with a multidisciplinary team, for making it possible to reattach the hand, according to a press release from Tampa General Hospital.
What the data says
Shark bites remain rare but can be devastating when they occur. The Florida Museum's International Shark Attack File recorded 65 unprovoked bites worldwide in 2025, including 11 in Florida, with two reported in Lee County. Snorkelers made up about 15 percent of encounters, a reminder that even low odds can still lead to life‑changing injury. For more context and safety tips, the International Shark Attack File summary is available from the Florida Museum.
Local reaction and recovery
Boca Grande has historically seen very few shark incidents, and local reporting notes that the island's last recorded bite before Leah's case was in 2019. Neighbors and first responders have rallied around the family in the months since. Leah has visited the Boca Grande fire crew who helped her on the day of the attack, and her mother reflected on the complicated mix of emotions: "We just sit and remember what happened, but also it was such a great outcome for her. She's alive," she said, as reported by CBS Miami. The community's response and the family's visits to thank rescuers have also been chronicled by the Boca Beacon.
Leah's rehabilitation is expected to be a slow, careful process centered on therapy, follow‑up care and steady gains in strength. Returning to the sand where everything changed, quietly and on her own terms, is one more step in a recovery that her family is measuring in small but determined milestones.
