Had a high school buddy lose his index finger from a snapper as well.

We were down by the creek at lunchtime and buddy sees a snapper laying on the bank. He decided it would be fun to pick it up so he grabbed it with both hands by the shell. Just as another friend was telling him to be careful as they can be quick, the turtle shot it’s head out and grabbed buddy’s finger. It was gone before he could even let go of the turtle. Buddy drops the turtle, grabs his hand and started screaming. We jumped up to help and the turtle made a mad dash into the water.

That was over 20 years and to this day, we still call him Donny (after the Ninja Turtle nobody liked because someone back then said that his mutilated hand looked like a Ninja Turtle’s hand).