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Tampa, FL - A young girl was rushed to a Tampa hospital by air after an apparent shark attack in the waters near Boca Grande on Wednesday.
The victim was snorkeling with her family on Wednesday when, upon surfacing, she cried out in pain and her right hand appeared nearly severed, covered in blood up to the wrist, her mother said.
The victim's mother was just a few feet away, holding her two younger siblings in floatation devices.
She immediately grabbed the toddlers and rushed to shore so she could help the child.
The victim's father, swimming nearby with the other children, raced in as soon as he heard the commotion.
Despite her injuries, the victim managed to walk to shore unaided.
Construction workers at a nearby site joined in, using shirts to apply pressure as tourniquets while a Good Samaritan dialed 911.
Boca Grande Fire Chief C W Blosser III confirmed the wound was consistent with a shark bite, although no shark was spotted when rescue personnel arrived around midday.
Due to the severity of the wounds, the child was airlifted to Tampa for emergency surgery.
Hospital officials indicate she is expected to survive and that medical teams are working to attempt saving her hand.
Chief Blosser noted that while shark bites in the region are rare, there have been a few in recent years, and authorities urge beachgoers to stay alert when swimming in the Gulf. Investigators are speaking with witnesses and reviewing exactly what occurred to better understand the incident.