Leah Stewart, who survived a shark attack at Sydney's Coogee Beach in June, has reported a significant improvement in her mental health recovery. Stewart, 35, stated that the persistent nightmares that plagued her for months after the incident have stopped.
"When I used to recall the event, I would have an eight-out-of-ten fear response," Stewart explained in a video shared to Instagram. "I would feel like I was back in the water. Constantly, the shark attack was replaying in my head on a loop, 24 hours a day, for months on end. I couldn't sleep at night. I was having nightmares and I was waking up in sweats every single day."
Stewart revealed she has been undergoing eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This psychotherapy treatment is designed to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories. She described the therapy as "life-changing," noting that it has helped move the traumatic memory from the "traumatic part of her brain" to her long-term memory. "Now, I can think back on it and it just feels like something that's happened. I can recall it but my body doesn't feel it like I felt when I was in the water," she said.
Stewart lost an arm below the elbow and underwent multiple surgeries, including procedures on her leg. In October, she shared a video demonstrating her ability to plait her own hair with one arm, a feat she had previously struggled with. However, she also experienced setbacks, sharing in September that a skin graft on her leg had failed, leaving the wound open.
Despite the challenges, Stewart returned to Coogee Beach four months after the attack to speak at a community swim event. She used the opportunity to raise awareness, advocate for improved safety protocols, and encourage confidence in the water. Stewart, an avid ocean swimmer prior to the attack, expressed a hope to participate in future community swims, though she remains cautious about returning to the open ocean without enhanced safety measures like drones and shark nets.