Authorities said the child, identified by family as Leah Lendel, was snorkeling in the water with her family off Boca Grande, on Wednesday, June 11, when the attack occurred. Leah’s mother Nadia Lendel reportedly said on her Instagram page,

A 9-year-old girl was attacked by a shark while snorkeling off the Florida Gulf Coast, with the animal nearly biting her entire hand off, her family said.

Image via Shutterstock A 9-year-old girl was attacked by a shark while on a family vacation to Boca Grande, Florida. Following the traumatic attack, she had to undergo emergency surgery on her hand. In a video statement,