After emerging from a medically induced coma, a mother who was critically injured in a harrowing shark attack has spoken her first words, as reported by her family. Leah Stewart, aged 35, was viciously attacked by a great white shark while swimming at Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on June 13.
Following the attack, Leah was swiftly taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in critical condition. Surgeons at the hospital carried out an arm amputation and several procedures while she remained in intensive care. Her family has been providing regular updates on her condition, with her brother Joshua recently sharing an emotional statement.
Joshua mentioned that after a week of life support and multiple surgeries, doctors were able to reduce Leah’s sedation and bring her out of the induced coma briefly. In that moment, Leah expressed her love to her mother and partner Fernando, who have been steadfastly supporting her in the ICU since the incident. Her immediate concern was for her daughter August’s well-being.
Despite the positive progress, Leah remains in intensive care and faces a challenging path to recovery. She has undergone a series of surgeries and is scheduled for more in the coming weeks. A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to aid in Leah’s rehabilitation, prosthetic limbs, and medical expenses, raising a substantial amount.
The incident unfolded while Leah was swimming at Coogee Beach, where an off-duty lifeguard named Charlie Verco, who was paddleboarding nearby, acted swiftly to assist her after the attack. Following initial medical aid on the beach, Leah was airlifted to St Vincent’s Hospital for further treatment.
Leah, a teacher at Hurstville Adventist School, had previously worked at Sydney Adventist School in Auburn. Former colleagues fondly remembered her, with one recalling her aspiration to participate in Australian Survivor, noting that she had indeed become a survivor herself.
At the time of the attack, Coogee Beach did not have active shark monitoring due to flight path restrictions, but temporary surveillance measures were later authorized. The shark involved in the incident was estimated to be between three and four meters long.