Girl, 9, mauled by shark at popular US beach as horrified parents hear her screams and watch water turn red with blood
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A NINE-year-old girl has been savaged by a shark at a popular US beach in a 'terrifying life-altering event.'
Leah Lendel had to be airlifted to a trauma center after her horrified parents heard her screaming and saw the water turn red with her blood.
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The shark attack victim, Leah Lendel, was snorkelling at the time of the terrifying attack
Credit: GoFundMe
A shark mauled the little girl in a horrific attack while she was snorkeling off Boca Grand in Florida.
The Boca Grande Fire Department said the attack happened yesterday at about noon near Fort Myers, on the state's southwest coast.
Her distraught family said in a statement that Leah was underwater when she suddenly surfaced screaming.
Her right hand was covered in blood, turning the sea red.
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The family described her arm as being so badly savaged that her hand was barely attached to it.
Her family said: "We're thankful to Jesus for the quick response of emergency crews."
They've launched an online fundraiser to help her recovery.
The GoFundMe page says, "On what was supposed to be a fun and sunny day at the beach in Boca Grande, 9-year-old Leah experienced a terrifying and life-altering event.
"While playing in the water with her siblings, she was bitten on her hand by a shark and had to be rushed to the hospital by Life Flight.
"We're thankful to Jesus for the quick response of emergency crews and the skill of the medical team.
"She is now stable and going through surgery - fighting hard for her road to recovery."
More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
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It was supposed to be a fun and sunny day at the beach in Boca Grande, Florida
Credit: Getty
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