Shark Attack Injures 9-Year-Old Girl Near Boca Grande, Florida (June 2025)

On June 12, 2025, a 9-year-old girl sustained serious injuries in a shark attack near Boca Grande, Florida, a barrier island community located along the southwestern Gulf Coast. The incident occurred while the child was snorkeling in waters off the area. Officials confirmed the attack took place on that date.

Reporting from two news outlets indicated that the girl suffered severe trauma to her hand, with one source describing the injury as a near-complete severance. No information was available regarding the species of shark involved, nor were further details released about the precise location within the Boca Grande area or the immediate medical response at the scene.

Boca Grande is situated at the southern end of Gasparilla Island in Charlotte County, Florida, and the surrounding Gulf waters are frequented by recreational water users. No additional victims were reported in connection with this incident.