Frantic 911 call as girl, 9, is mauled by shark that ripped off her hand as onlookers screamed ‘it's circling in water'
TERRIFYING 911 audio has revealed the moment a brave nine-year-old-girl was rescued following a gruesome shark attack.
Petrified visitors to a popular family beach screamed as the predator circled in the water after it savaged Leah Lendel 's arm.
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The mauling happened on Wednesday while Leah was snorkeling in shallow water, nearly tearing her hand off in Boca Grande in Florida.
Her right hand was covered in blood, turning the sea red after she was bitten by the 8ft-long predator - reportedly a bull shark.
First responders were quickly alerted by two 911 callers, reported Fort Myers News-Press.
In one call, a stressed man can be heard telling the operator that the girl's "arm was completely destroyed."
The man told the 911 dispatcher, 'I'm on Boca Grande right now… I need a medical service ASAP, there's a shark.'
She asked, 'I'm sorry, there's what?'
He repeated, 'A shark.'
When asked whether anyone had been injured by the shark, he confirmed, 'Yes, yes, a shark bit the arm of the little kid, really bad.'
After the dispatcher confirmed that help was on the way, he was asked whether the girl was 'safe and out of water?"
The caller replied that she was 'out of water but she got the arm completely destroyed. She is safe out of the water, yes. She is nine years old, a girl.'
Girl, 9, mauled by shark at popular US beach as horrified parents hear her screams and watch water turn red with blood
After being told to tell everyone helping the victim that help was on the way, the dispatcher asked him whether Leah was awake, and breathing. He replied, 'She is awake, yes, she is breathing.'
He also confirmed that she had suffered serious bleeding.
When asked whether the blood was 'spurting or pouring out" he replied, 'Yes, we've got a towel on it.
"She is responding normally, she is scared, it's her hand, the whole wrist.'
He was also asked whether Leah's arm was 'bent out of shape' to which he replied, 'It's a little bit, yes, we've put it together under the towel."
Statement from Leah Lendel's family following the nine-year-old's shark attack
Nine-year-old Leah experienced a terrifying and life-altering event. Her family has issued the following statement following the suspected bull shark attack in Boca Grande, Florida:
"We want to say Thank You to everyone that is praying for our sweet Leah.
"We are thankful for the quick response of everyone that was on scene, the construction workers, residents that ran out to help and the first responders and to all the Doctors/Nurses that are doing everything to help our girl.
"Yesterday Leah had an extensive surgery on her hand (wrist & fingers).
"The Doctors, were able to get blood flow to her hand and fingers.
"She is showing some movement in two fingers but can't feel the rest.
"The doctors will be doing another procedure tomorrow to see if there is anything else that needs to be done.
"The fact that Leah has all her fingers attached is already a testimony.
"From witnessing her wrist hanging on by just the skin, to have blood flow in all of her hand and fingers is truly a miracle.
"Please keep praying for our family, our God is a miracle worker."
The dispatcher immediately stressed that those giving Leah first aid should not lift the towel to check the wound, for fear it would result in further blood loss.
He was told to use the towel to 'press down firmly on the wound, don't lift up to look, OK?' He confirmed they were following the instructions.
He also confirmed Leah's bleeding was 'not under control, but we've got it in the towel right now."
Within about four minutes of his frantic call, responders from the Boca Grande Fire Department had arrived at the scene.
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Incredibly, in an update on the attack, Leah's family has said that surgeons were able to repair her hand, but she faces further operations.
Asking for people's "prayers", they said in a statement, "The doctors, were able to get blood flow to her hand and fingers."
Leah has already regained minor finger movement after the surgeons used pins and arteries from her leg, after being airlifted to a trauma center in Tampa.
She underwent an initial six-hour surgery.
IN SHOCK
Her family told NBC affiliate WBBH that Leah's mom had been just 4 feet away with her two toddlers, said she noticed the girl's hand covered in blood and mostly torn off.
Leah - in a "state of shock", according to family - somehow managed to walk out of the water by herself.
Nearby construction workers taking a lunch break at the beach then wrapped her hand to stop the blood.
Max Derinskiy, an uncle of Leah's, said, "The doctors were able to do some miracles and put her hand back together.
"She will be in the hospital for a while and then a lot of physical therapy to hopefully get her hand functioning again."
BLOOD FLOW
Leah's mother, Nadia Lendel, told WBBH, "They had to get arteries from her leg to the hand.
"Got the blood flow back to her hand. Install pins in bones. Still has open tissues.
"They will be monitoring her here for a week. But thank God she can move her fingers.'
Nadia, an Instagram blogger with around 100,000 followers, posted following the attack, "Please keep our family in your prayers. Leah got bit by a shark today while snorkeling.
"She has to get airlifted to the hospital and is undergoing surgery."
Eyewitness Raynel Lugo said that he had called 911.
SHARK CIRCLING
He told CBS-affiliate WINK, "We heard somebody screaming 'help, help, help.'
"I saw a shark right on top of... the little kid."
Her injured hand "was just hanging by this piece… the whole thing was completely hanging out.
"I have a daughter, nine-years-old, same age. She was brave," he added.
Leah's dad had been snorkeling nearby and swam to shore, and with the help of the builders, they made a tourniquet out of a towel to help save her, the family said.
LIFE-ALTERING
The girl's family has launched an online fundraiser to help her recovery, which has already received more than $30,000 in donations.
Their 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."
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