THIS is the terrifying moment a gargantuan shark bites an aquarium mermaid’s hand, filling the tank with blood and leaving her needing 100 stitches.

Footage shows the victim wiggling her mermaid tail before the shark nearly rips her arm off clean.

The mermaid, Ms Li, is now filing a lawsuit for compensation following the horrific incident that took place in 2023 in Jiangsu, China.

Unbelievable footage shows her swimming in the aquarium as she trained to take part in a mermaid contest when the shark launches a terrifying attack.

The mermaid desperately pokes the monstrous creature in the eyes and its head until it eventually lets go of her.

She quickly swims to the surface, with a second clip showing her blood-soaked injury.

Ms Li said that the shark had poor eyesight and may have mistaken her arm for fish food – or may have been frightened.

She was rushed to hospital and had to undergo a horrific, five-hour operation.

Ms Li suffered a wound so deep that her bone was exposed, and medics unbelievably recovered a shark tooth during surgery.

The victim had to receive over a whopping 100 stitches after the ordeal and was diagnosed with a grade 10 disability.

This is because a tendon, radial artery, and radial vein were all severed in the shark savagery.

Following the attack, despite Ms Li recovering well, she has little to no feeling left in her hand.

This injury has led her to sue the aquarium.

After failing to reach an arrangement with the aquarium regarding compensation, she filed a complaint against them.

The Binhu District People’s Court of Wuxi City ruled that the operator of the diving project was ordered to bear 70 per cent of the responsibility, and Ms Li was responsible for 30 per cent.

The court ruled that Ms Li had signed a waiver and had a diving licence and that she also failed to observe her surroundings enough to ensure her safety.

But the aquarium was also found guilty of failing to meet safety standards.

The Sipadan Company, which operates the aquarium, was ordered to compensate the mermaid around £14,342.49.

Ms Li said that this case is the first of its kind in the country and said that the main cause of the accident was negligence on the part of the operator and was therefore unsatisfied with the verdict.

She said: “This accident could have been avoided. I just hope that the other party can bear all my medical expenses.”

Ms Li plans to appeal.