Molly Cavalli had just been lowered into the water in a protective cage, which proved to be ineffective, when the lemon shark attempted to savage the model’s ankle.

Axar.az reports citing Express.

The delights of the shoot, which took place just off the Florida coast, were soon replaced by agonising screams as she realised what was happening.

Moments later, the cage is surrounded by blood as Ms Cavalli is pulled from the water gasping for air, before the footage focuses on the gash in her leg.

The shoot, which was meant to showcase a new mobile broadcasting feature, was abandoned and the model was rushed to hospital for treatment.

She later issued a statement thanking fans for their wishes, and playing down the severity of her injuries.

She said: “I want to thank my fans for their outpouring of support as I heal my foot following the shark bite. Luckily it only required 20 stitches. I'm fine. It's not that bad. I had a great experience anyway and now I have a story to tell forever.”

Darren Press, Vice President of CamSoda, the adult entertainment company who Ms Cavalli was representing, explained that the model’s foot was dangling out of the protective cage, allowing the shark to nab at her.

He said: “From what we gathered, lemon sharks are predominantly docile and relatively harmless.

“During the broadcast, a shark approached the cage which made Molly nervous. She swam up to the surface as the shark approached. Her foot rose above the protective net and was bitten.

“We immediately pulled Molly out of the cage and rushed to shore.”

Shark attacks are becoming a more common occurrence worldwide.

On April 29, a woman was bitten by a shark while surfing at near San Onofre State Beach in northern San Diego County.

The victim is believed to have had part of her upper thigh torn away as she waded in the ocean.

That attack came just days after a 17-year-old girl was killed at Wylie Bay in Western Australia.