9-year-old girl’s hand torn off in shark attack off Florida beach, family says

BOCA GRANDE, Fla. (WFLA) — A 9-year-old girl was flown to a hospital Wednesday after suffering an apparent shark bite while in the water at a southwest Florida beach.

Authorities said the incident happened near the 2200 block of Shore Lane in Boca Grande, a small costal community on Gasparilla Island.

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The girl’s family confirmed her identity as a 9-year-old named Leah, Gulf Coast News reported.

Leah’s mother, Nadia, was about 4 feet away when she heard her daughter, who was snorkeling, emerge from the water and scream, according to a statement from the family…

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