BOCA GRANDE, Fla. — A 9-year-old girl is being treated at a Florida hospital after she was attacked by a shark while swimming near Boca Grande Beach on Wednesday, according to first responders.
The girl was playing in the water with her siblings and suffered a serious hand injury. First responders responded quickly and determined she needed to be airlifted to the hospital for treatment.
Her family and friends shared her updates via a GoFundMe page, saying she is currently in stable condition and undergoing surgery, but her recovery will be long. “Thank you Jesus for the quick response of the first responders and the great skills of the medical team,” the post read.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office did not report any unusual ocean activity, and beach conditions were said to be calmer than in recent weeks.
Florida leads the nation in the number of unprovoked shark bites each year. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File, the state recorded 14 unprovoked shark bites in 2024, half of the national total. More than a third of Florida’s shark bites since records began in 1882 have occurred in Volusia County, which includes Daytona Beach.
Most shark bites are not fatal, said Dr. Jim Gresslecht, a shark expert at the University of North Florida. “The increase in beachgoers during the summer, coupled with sharks swimming closer to shore in pursuit of baitfish, increases the risk of shark bites, although they remain rare,” he said.
The last fatal shark attack in Florida occurred off Stewart Beach in 2010.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises swimmers to avoid the water at dusk, when sharks are most active, and not to enter the water if they have open wounds or are wearing shiny jewelry that could attract sharks. Purple flags on beaches indicate the presence of dangerous marine life.
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