Leah Stewart, a teacher and mother, awoke from a 10-day induced coma after a severe shark attack and spoke her first words to her family, telling them "I love you." Stewart had been in critical condition and undergone five surgeries, including the amputation of an arm, after being attacked by a shark on June 13 at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia.
Her brother shared the update on a fundraising page, describing her awakening as a "miracle" and a positive step in her recovery. He noted that Stewart's first concerns upon waking were for her daughter, August. Stewart was airlifted to a hospital following the incident, where she had been on life-support and undergoing repeated surgeries.
Stewart was swimming near the shore when the attack occurred, with a friend watching her daughter on the beach. The attack has raised concerns in Australia, as three other fatal shark attacks have occurred since May, and a 12-year-old boy was killed in Sydney Harbor in January. Stewart remains in critical care, but her family expressed hope for her long-term recovery.