South Florida girl attacked by barracuda

Miami, Fla - A south Florida girl has been released from the hospital after a fish bit her hand while snorkeling.

Michelle Casasola was snorkeling near Key West with several family members Sunday afternoon when a barracuda swam up and bit into her right hand.
Doctors say the fish swam away with a huge chunk of Michelle's palm.
It took six hours of surgery to repair the soon to be fourth graders hand. A doctor removed a nerve from the girl's leg and reattached it to her hand. She left the hospital Tuesday with dozens of stitches around her right hand.

Afterward, she talked about the scary experience.

"I thought it was just like somebody just hit me, an accident when they're
swimming."
"We were throwing bagels so we could have a good look at the fish. And there
was a bagel next to my arm, and the barracuda -- I think it was a barracuda --
got my hand."

Doctors say Michelle will have to spend at least a year in physical therapy, In order to get back all of the motion and sensory nerves in her hand.

(AP contributed to this report)