Man who rushed in to aid girl bitten in Boca Grande shark attack now facing deportation
Alvarez, 31, of Lehigh Acres, was stopped about 1:30 a.m. on June 14 while driving on West Main Street in Immokalee without his headlights on. The Collier County Sheriff's Office arrest report says he was driving a gray SUV with a Rhode Island tag.
When asked for his license Alvarez called up a picture of his Employment Authorization Card on his phone. He told the arresting officer in Spanish that he has been in the country for 2 1/2 years and has never had a driver's license, the report stated.
Alverez was arrested for driving without a license and issued a warning for not having the headlights on.
The arrest report says Alvarez is from Boaco, Nicaragua. Court records indicate he is being held for in the jail by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He is scheduled to go before a judge on July 9.
Leah Lendel sustained severe injuries after she was bitten by a shark a few feet off the beach in Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island. Her hand was nearly severed, but fast action at the scene and an airlift to Tampa General Hospital allowed surgeons to re-attach her hand. She is recovering.
Raynel Lugo, who also helped during the rescue, said in an interview with Fox4 News, which first reported the Alverez arrest, that Alvarez went in the water first to scare the shark and help Lendel's sister.
"He jumped in that area to bring her out when I was assisting Leah," said Lugo in the Fox4 interview. "He went deep underwater, not even caring about the shark. He went really deep. He probably faced the shark."
Body camera footage from a Lee County Sheriff's Office Deputy who responded to the call shows the three men standing next to the water as Leah was being treated by EMS.
Alvarez, through an interpreter, told first responders it looked like about an eight-foot shark. Experts later said it was possibly a bull shark, one of the more aggressive sharks in Florida waters.
Court records indicate Alvarez has no arrest history in Collier County. He was arrested on similar charges four times in Lee County dating back to December 2023. He paid fines or had adjudication withheld by three different judges. In the most recent case the judge issued a D6 suspension on June 23, meaning Alvarez had not paid his fine and was unable to apply for a license.
Alvarez is represented in 2024 by attorney Jose Calvo. He could not be reached for comment.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Luis Alvarez rushed to help after shark bite, now faces deportation
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chicagoland father and son drown in Lake Michigan while swimming at Indiana Dunes
PORTER COUNTY, Ind. — A father and son from Chicagoland drowned Saturday afternoon while swimming in Lake Michigan at a beach in Northwest Indiana. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, emergency crews were called to Boaters Beach at Indiana Dunes National Park at 4:20 p.m. following reports of an active water rescue. Conservation Officers, along with National Park Rangers, used off-road vehicles and a patrol boat to reach the remote area. Two men were pulled from the water by a good Samaritan. They were transported to a local hospital, where they later died, IDNR said. The victims were identified as David Meneou, 65, of Joliet, and his son, Jameson Meneou, 20, of Lockport. IDNR says a preliminary investigation shows Jameson Meneou was swimming when he ventured into deep water and began to struggle. His father jumped in to save him but also became distressed. This incident remains under investigation by Indiana Conservation Officers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Man dies, 3 firefighters burned from fire in Anne Arundel County
A man died, and three firefighters suffered minor burns from a fire Sunday in Anne Arundel County, according to the fire department. Firefighters responded to the fire in the 1100 block of Crain Highway in Glen Burnie. A child and another adult were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The firefighters are expected to recover, a fire spokesperson told WJZ. Officials said the Red Cross and Mobile Crisis are assisting the families. The Anne Arundel County Fire & Explosives Investigation Unit is investigating the cause of the fire.
CBS News
4 hours ago
- CBS News
Father, son dies after being pulled from Lake Michigan in Porter, Indiana, officials say
A Chicago area father and son are dead after being pulled from Lake Michigan Saturday afternoon in Porter, Indiana, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said. Around 4:20 p.m., Conservation Officers and National Park Rangers responded to a reported active water rescue on the lake near Dune Acres. A good Samaritan had removed the two men from the water. Conservation Officers and National Park Rangers boated the men to the Port of Indiana while performing CPR. They were then taken to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The victims were identified as David Meneou, 65, of Joliet, Illinois, and Jameson Meneou, 20, of Lockport, Illinois. A preliminary investigation indicated that both men were in the water when Jameson Meneou entered deep water and began struggling. David Meneou attempted to rescue his son but also began to struggle in the deep water. The incident remains under investigation. No further information was immediately available.
