A mother was left in critical condition after being attacked by a shark while swimming at a popular tourist destination, resulting in the loss of her arm. Leah Stewart, 35, experienced severe blood loss from multiple shark bites at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia. She was attacked by a 12ft great white shark just off the shoreline. Leah, a teacher, is currently on life support following multiple surgeries.
A fundraising campaign has raised nearly $200,000 AUD for Leah’s medical expenses. The campaign describes her injuries as severe, including multiple bites, lacerations, fractures, and significant blood loss. Leah has undergone amputation of her arm and is scheduled for further surgeries.
Witnesses described hearing screams before finding Leah surrounded by blood. Off-duty doctors provided immediate aid by applying tourniquets before she was airlifted to St Vincent’s Hospital. Leah’s brother praised her as a dedicated mother, teacher, and ocean enthusiast.
The family expressed gratitude to the lifeguards, medical team, and supporters. Friends highlighted Leah’s activism for water quality and breast cancer awareness. Authorities closed several beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after the incident to monitor shark activity.