Leah Stewart, the Sydney teacher and mother who survived a great white shark attack at Coogee Beach earlier this month, is awake and continuing her recovery following multiple surgeries.
An update shared by her brother, Joshua Stewart, on the family’s GoFundMe page confirmed that the 34-year-old is alert and “remembers the whole event in detail”.
“It was amazing to hear from her so much sooner than anyone expected,” he wrote, adding that Leah was able to reunite with her daughter, August, for the first time since the attack.
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What happened
Leah Stewart was seriously injured on 13 June after she was attacked by a suspected 3.5-metre great white shark while swimming between the flags at Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The 34-year-old teacher and mother suffered catastrophic injuries and was pulled from the water by an off-duty volunteer lifesaver before receiving emergency treatment on the beach. She was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in a critical condition, where she underwent multiple surgeries and was placed in an induced coma.
Recovery update
Leah is no longer in a critical condition after sustaining life-threatening injuries during the shark attack. She lost one arm and has undergone several surgeries.
According to her family, her remaining arm has significant tendon and nerve damage and currently has limited function. Further operations and intensive rehabilitation are planned over the coming weeks.
Joshua Stewart said Leah faces “an extensive recovery and rehabilitation process” that will require ongoing hospital treatment and surgery.
Some more wonderful news for Leah. She has continued to make progress over the past days, she has now been stabilised and is no longer critical. Leah has been brought out from the heavy sedation and is now awake and alert and has been able to speak with our family and her medical team. It’s amazing to hear from her so much sooner than anyone expected. Both Leah and August were overjoyed last night to see each other for the first time since the attack (these last weeks were the first time they had ever been apart overnight).
Shark activity along Sydney’s Coast
Leah’s attack comes during a period of increased shark activity along Sydney’s coastline.
In recent weeks, beaches including Bondi, Coogee, Tamarama, Bronte and Maroubra have experienced temporary closures following sightings of great white sharks close to shore.
Marine experts say increased shark activity at this time of year is linked to the annual migration of Australian salmon along the New South Wales coast, which attracts several shark species.
Professor Rob Harcourt, a marine biologist at Macquarie University, said large schools of salmon are currently present off Sydney’s beaches, drawing sharks closer to shore.
Drone footage shared by the Drone Shark App has also captured great white and tiger sharks near Bondi Beach.
In response, the New South Wales Government has announced an expansion of its shark surveillance programme, including increased use of shark detection drones across the state’s beaches.
Sending love to Leah and August
Leah has a long road ahead. Surgeries, rehabilitation, learning to navigate a life that looks different from the one she had two weeks ago – all of it in front of her, with a daughter to come home to.
If you want to support her recovery, the family’s GoFundMe is still active.
And if you’re reading this in Oz and heading to the beach this winter with your little ones – check local beach alerts before you go, follow lifeguard instructions immediately if a siren sounds, and know that the people on the sand are watching out for you.
Leah, we’re rooting for you. Get back to August.
Sources
Beach safety and shark alert information for NSW beaches: Surf Life Saving NSW and the Drone Shark App
Image: GoFundMe | Leah Stewart
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