Leah Stewart, a 34-year-old teacher, has detailed the harrowing experience of a great white shark attack that occurred on June 13 at Coogee Beach. Stewart was swimming between the flags when the encounter took place, resulting in a severe injury that necessitated the amputation of one of her arms.
Stewart described the moment the shark, estimated to be 30cm from her face, opened its mouth. "I'm like, 'It's going to get my face, it's going to bite my face'... I'm like, 'I've got to try and punch it. I've got to try and push it away or else it's going to bite my head off," she recounted in a promotional clip for an upcoming interview. Stewart explained her thought process in the critical seconds: "Which limb am I willing to lose? I'm right-handed. So I decided, let's do a left hook."
The attack left Stewart in a coma for two weeks, during which she underwent multiple surgeries. In earlier statements, Stewart revealed that her survival instincts were fueled by thoughts of her one-year-old daughter, August. "All I was thinking of was August and I thought, 'she's not going to have a mum'," she said, emphasizing her determination to fight for her life. The immediate aftermath of the attack was captured in a Triple Zero call, where a beachgoer reported, "Hi, we've got a shark attack at Coogee Beach... There's a lot of blood."
Following the ordeal, a GoFundMe campaign established for Stewart raised over $558,000. In a message shared via the fundraiser, Stewart expressed profound gratitude for the support she and her family received. "I want to say the biggest thank you for looking after me, for caring for my family, and for being generous enough to help my family through this," she stated. She noted the overwhelming support from both acquaintances and strangers had a significant impact on her recovery.
Stewart has progressed in her recovery, aiming to regain independence and find a sense of normalcy. "I still have a long way to go, but my recovery has been remarkable, and a huge part of that is because of the absolute army of love, support, prayers and encouragement surrounding my family and I from all over the world," she said. She views her survival as a second chance and is committed to making the most of it, intending to give back through generosity, care, and love. "I will forever be grateful for everything, and everyone, I’ve been given. You've inspired me to get better, not bitter," Stewart concluded.