9-year-old girl recounts moment she was bitten by shark while snorkeling
Leah Lendel was snorkeling near Boca Grande on June 11 when "something hard bit me and then tried to tug me away," she said at a news conference Thursday alongside her parents and the doctors who treated her.
"Then I pick up my hand and it's all in blood," Leah said. "Then I started screaming with my mom."
MORE: 9-year-old girl nearly loses her hand in shark attack off Florida Gulf Coast
"There was so much blood in the water right next to me," Leah's mom, Nadia Lendel, said at the news conference. "In an instant, I knew it's a shark attack."
"I just started to scream to my husband," Nadia Lendel recalled. Meanwhile, Leah's "instincts kicked in" and she ran out of the water, her mom said.
"Then my dad was with me," Leah said. "He picked me up and we ran to the road."
Leah's parents expressed their gratitude for the construction workers who were eating lunch on the beach and immediately ran to help them call 911 and put Leah's arm in a tourniquet. Leah's dad said EMS then responded within minutes.
Tampa General Hospital doctors praised the first responders for choosing to fly the two hours in the helicopter to their hospital where they said they had the expertise to help Leah within the six-hour window to save the tendons, tissue and muscle.
Doctors said they operated on Leah's hand less than an hour after she came through the hospital doors.
At the hospital, "I was trying to hold myself together," said Leah's dad, Jay Lendel. "I think I was crying more than she was."
Tampa General Hospital Dr. Alfred Hess said luckily a shark bite is not jagged, but leaves a clean cut on the wrist that doesn't ruin all the tissue.
MORE: How to stay safe from shark attacks this summer
First Leah's bone was stabilized and then doctors said they worked on blood flow. Some blood vessels were taken from Leah's leg to help get blood flow back to her hand, the doctors said.
Leah will next undergo physical therapy, her doctors said, and eventually the pins in her hand will be removed.
"I'm just thankful for everybody," Jay Lendel said. "I'm just very thankful she's alive."
Meanwhile, another shark bite was reported on Tuesday on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
The victim suffered a non-life-threatening injury to the leg and was airlifted to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia, according to the Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue.
There were 28 unprovoked shark bites in the U.S. last year, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File. Florida recorded the most with 14; South Carolina had two.
Just one shark attack in the U.S. last year -- which occurred in Hawaii -- was fatal, ISAF said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dad shuts down mother-in-law's body-shaming remark about his 11-year-old—and parents are cheering
When TikTok user @jonfromfridai posted about a family dinner gone wrong on July 13, more than 2.4 million people tuned in. In the video, Jon describes how his mother-in-law made an offhand remark about his 11-year-old's body—so he stopped the conversation and drew a firm line, in the moment, with his daughter watching. The comment section was singing praises for the dad: @donzelleendres72: 'your daughter will always remember how you stood up for her.' @jimmydeannn: 'As a daughter of Asian parents who dealt with this her whole life, thank you for standing up for your daughter.' @anelanelaaaa: 'You also stood up for your wife, I am sure she grew up hearing the same comments from her mom.' Related: This dad canceled a 'period party' to protect his daughter's privacy—and parents can't stop applauding him Why this struck such a nerve Because one 'little' comment can land like a lifetime. A large body of research shows that weight- and appearance-related comments or teasing from family are linked to body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, and disordered eating in young people—effects that can persist for years. In longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, family weight talk and teasing predicted unhealthy weight-control behaviours (UWCBs), poorer body image, higher stress, and lower self-esteem across adolescence. It starts earlier than most people think. Children as young as 7–12 report body shame tied to parental attention to appearance, and childhood body-image concerns are well-documented. Early exposure to negative body commentary can shape how children value (or doubt) their bodies long before the teen years. Parents' modeling matters immensely. Teens mirror how parents talk about bodies. Recent research finds adolescents' perceptions of parental 'fat talk' or objectifying comments correlate with higher body dissatisfaction and more disordered-eating symptoms; conversely, healthier parent talk relates to better body esteem. Intergenerational studies also show parents who grew up around weight talk are more likely to repeat it with their own kids—unless they consciously break the pattern. This is a cultural moment. Coverage of Jon's video across parenting outlets underscores how common—and harmful—'harmless' family remarks can be, particularly for preteens navigating a vulnerable stage of body awareness. Rewriting the playbook: why his response matters Jon's choice to set a boundary aloud—in front of his daughter—turns an injurious moment into a model of safety and validation. Instead of silently absorbing the remark, his daughter saw her parent assert: We don't talk about your body like that. You are worthy of protection. That live demonstration is precisely the kind of counter-message research suggests can buffer kids against internalizing body shame. What parents can do (actionable, research-aligned) Name the boundary, calmly and clearly. Try: 'We don't comment on her body.' Short, direct statements reduce ambiguity and shut down repeating patterns shown to predict later harm. Affirm privately after. Reinforce your child's worth ('I love how strong and capable your body is'). Affirming function over appearance is a core theme in current youth body-confidence programs. Replace 'fat talk' with values-based language. Model talking about how bodies feel and what they can do. Studies suggest shifting parental talk away from weight/shape correlates with healthier body esteem and eating attitudes in adolescents. Break the intergenerational cycle. If you grew up around weight talk, say so—and choose differently now. Intergenerational data link parents' past exposure to their current communication with kids; awareness helps you interrupt the loop. Follow up with family, kindly but firmly. 'I know you meant well, but comments about her body can be harmful. Please don't do that again.' Appearance-focused family cultures are associated with greater disordered-eating risk; reframing the family norm matters. The bigger picture From primary-school ages onward, body dissatisfaction is associated with poorer mental-health outcomes and risky behaviours. Interventions now emphasise adult role-modelling and ability-based compliments (strength, creativity, kindness) over appearance. Jon's moment shows how a single protective act can recalibrate a family script—and become the memory a child keeps. Related: How to talk to your kids about body-image and positive self-talk Sources: Parental Contributors to the Prevalence and Long-term Health Risks of Family Weight Teasing in Adolescence. 2021. Journal of Adolescent Health. Parental Contributors to the Prevalence and Long-term Health Risks of Family Weight Teasing in Adolescence Body Shame in 7–12-Year-Old Girls and Boys: The Role of Parental Attention to Children's Appearance. 2023. National Library of Medicine. Body Shame in 7–12-Year-Old Girls and Boys: The Role of Parental Attention to Children's Appearance. Adolescents' reports of parental objectification of others' bodies are associated with their body image and eating behaviors. 2025. Springer Nature. Adolescents' reports of parental objectification of others' bodies are associated with their body image and eating behaviors. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Berkshire's UnitedHealth Bet Highlights Long-Term Confidence Despite Depressed Earnings
On Friday, high-profile investors Michael Burry and Warren Buffett took positions in UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH). Warren Buffett's fund bought little more than 5 million shares, and Burry disclosed in 13F filings that he purchased call contracts against 350,000 shares of UnitedHealth. The holdings suggest Burry is betting on a sector turnaround, particularly as Medicare Advantage rates have exceeded expectations for 2026, and UnitedHealth's competitive positioning remains strong despite recent setbacks. Berkshire Hathaway's stake in UnitedHealth signals confidence but largely reinforces the consensus that earnings are currently depressed. Investors with a five-year horizon could benefit, though most still expect steady annual of America Securities (BofA) remains bullish, projecting earnings recovery by 2027, which could drive both upside in profits and valuation multiples. Analyst Kevin Fischbeck raised the price forecast from $290 to $325 on the better peer multiples, reaffirming the Neutral rating. For UnitedHealth, guidance is everything. The stock only works if the company delivers, particularly with upside on its medical loss ratio. BofA notes it's been over two years since a "United-type" quarter, but steady beats and raises could restore confidence in management and its grasp of healthcare trends. CMS will release 2027 Star Ratings in mid-October, determining how much UnitedHealth's Medicare Advantage business qualifies for the 5% quality bonus. With Medicare Advantage margins thin at 3–5%, ratings are a key driver of profitability. Recent drops at Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) and CVS Health Group Inc. (NYSE:CVS) underscore the risk. If UnitedHealth posts weaker scores, margin recovery could be pushed back to 2028, leaving it no better than peers. For UnitedHealth, the key focus is the 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) rate update, due in February 2026. The 2026 update delivered the most significant increase in a decade, easing concerns about an unfriendly policy stance. The bigger risk lies in coding changes. With 2026 as the final year of the V28 phase-in, no extra cuts were applied, which improved sentiment. However, 2027 could pair a stronger rate update with a new coding adjustment (V29), potentially offsetting gains. Price Action: UNH stock is trading higher by 3.58% to $314.88 at last check Monday. Read Next:Photo by via Shutterstock Latest Ratings for UNH Date Firm Action From To Jan 2022 SVB Leerink Maintains Outperform Jan 2022 BMO Capital Maintains Market Perform Jan 2022 Raymond James Maintains Strong Buy View More Analyst Ratings for UNH View the Latest Analyst Ratings Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? UNITEDHEALTH GROUP (UNH): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Berkshire's UnitedHealth Bet Highlights Long-Term Confidence Despite Depressed Earnings originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
3 minutes ago
- CBS News
West Nile virus confirmed in an Oakland County resident, local health officials say
A human case of West Nile virus has been reported in an Oakland County resident – the second such case confirmed this year in Michigan. No travel was reported by the patient, the Oakland County Health Division said in its statement issued Monday. "This is an important reminder that West Nile Virus is present in our community," said Kate Guzman, health officer for Oakland County Health Division. "We strongly encourage residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes until the first hard frost of the year." No details about the patient — other than a lack of travel — have been released by the health department. This is the first human case of West Nile virus in Oakland County confirmed in 2025; the second in the state this year. The earlier case was reported out of Livingston County. Mosquitoes are infected with West Nile virus by biting an infected bird. The virus can then spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people who are infected with the virus have either no symptoms or experience a mild illness such as fever, headache, and body aches. But in some people, more serious conditions such as inflammation and swelling of the brain can occur. People older than 50 are more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms of West Nile Virus if they do get sick. While this is only the second human case in Michigan this year, there are several counties where local health authorities confirmed West Nile virus among the local mosquito populations. West Nile also has been confirmed among mosquitoes this summer in Windsor, Ontario. Health officials recommend people take precautions against mosquito bites so to limit the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Those steps include using an insect repellant registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, and removing standing water around homes and outdoor property where mosquitoes could breed. The above video originally aired on Sept. 25, 2024.
