Leah Stewart, a 35-year-old mother, has woken from an induced coma following a severe shark attack. She was able to speak her first words to her mother and partner, who have been at her bedside.
Stewart was attacked by a great white shark while swimming at Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs on June 13. She was transported to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition and underwent an arm amputation and multiple other surgeries. Her brother, Joshua, shared an update on Wednesday, stating that doctors were able to remove her from life support and reduce sedation, allowing her to communicate. Her first words were "I love you," and her immediate concern was for her daughter, August.
"This is a lot faster than anyone expected, and for us this feels like a miracle and is everything so many of us have hoped and prayed for over the past week," Joshua stated. He described her awakening as a significant and positive first step in her recovery.
Stewart remains in intensive care and faces a lengthy rehabilitation period, with further surgeries scheduled in the coming weeks. A fundraiser established to assist with her rehabilitation, prosthetics, and medical expenses has raised approximately $488,000.
An off-duty lifeguard, Charlie Verco, was paddleboarding nearby and assisted Stewart after the attack, pulling her onto his board and taking her back to shore. She received multiple blood transfusions on the beach before being airlifted to St Vincent's Hospital. Stewart, a primary school teacher, was placed on life support following the incident.
Following the attack, Coogee Beach was not monitored by shark surveillance drones due to its location beneath a flight path. Authorities later received a temporary exemption to use drones for shark activity monitoring in the area. The shark involved in the incident is estimated to have been between three and four meters long.