Thi74-Critically Mauled by a Shark, This Young Mother Defied Death

Family of young mother who was left fighting for life after being mauled by a shark at Coogee Beach share update on her condition

Loved ones of a young Sydney mother have spoken out to share news of her recovery after a huge outpouring of support and sympathy.

Leah Stewart, 35, was swimming at Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Saturday June 13, as a friend watched her one-year-old daughter on the sand, when she was mauled by a great white shark.

She is being treated in St Vincent’s Hospital, where she remains in a critical but stable condition after undergoing an arm amputation, among other surgeries.

‘It is expected this will remain her condition for some time,’ the hospital said on Monday in a statement on behalf of Ms Stewart’s family.

‘There is a long road ahead for her and her family.’

A fundraiser to help Ms Stewart with her rehabilitation, prosthetics and medical bills had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.

While just a day ago on Sunday, Coogee Beach was filled with crowds who took to the water in a show of solidarity for Ms Stewart and the eastern suburbs community.

Additional safety measures were in place for the gathering including lifeguards on jetskis and inflatable dinghies and a drone watching the crowds from overhead.

‘Mitigate the risk’: Calls for shark cull grow after mother mauled at Coogee

An off-duty lifeguard who was paddleboarding at Cogee rushed over to help rescue the young woman.

Charlie Verco pulled Ms Stewart onto his paddleboard where she passed out as he made his way back to shore.

She was given multiple blood transfusions on the beach before being airlifted to St Vincent’s.

The primary school teacher, who works at Hurstville Adventist School, was then put on life support in the ICU where she remains.

Coogee Beach was not being monitored by shark surveillance drones when the attack unfolded because the area lies beneath a flight path.

Authorities were later given an exemption for drones to temporarily monitor shark activity.

The shark involved is believed to have been between three and four metres long.

A GoFundMe campaign launched by her brother, Joshua Stewart, has garnered more than $445,000, with a number of people commenting with stories about how they knew Ms Stewart.

Community gathers for Coogee swim-out for mother attacked by shark

https://youtu.be/rlGSn_WYKE0?si=Gf2hxmbG911M7bBk

One person said they knew her when she worked as a teacher at Sydney Adventist School in Auburn about 10 years ago.

‘My friend and I had been watching Australian Survivor and were discussing the finale,’ they wrote.

‘Miss Stewart overheard, asked if we were talking about Survivor, and quickly said, ‘Don’t tell me who won, I haven’t seen it yet’.’

‘She then said she wanted to go on Survivor – well 10 years later, she is a survivor.

‘She will take on the challenges and come out on top. I wish you, her, and your families nothing but the best,’ they wrote.

The principal of Hurstville Adventist School Erika Ratu, where Ms Stewart works, also wrote a supportive post on social media.

‘Our hearts are with Miss Leah Stewart, her daughter, partner and her family,’ Ms Ratu wrote.

‘Miss Stewart has a beautiful way of bringing joy and light into every space – she is deeply caring, advocates for others, and treats everyone with warmth and kindness. She is deeply loved by our students, staff and parents.

‘We continue to hold Leah and her family in our prayers during this time, and we are so grateful for the outpouring of support, love and care from our wider community.’

Ms Stewart’s partner Fernando, who was presenting at a conference overseas when the attack took place, has arrived back in Australia to be by her side.

Her brother thanked Ms Stewart’s friends for making a playlist of her favourite songs to play in her hospital room.

‘We’re currently printing out photos to put into her hospital room to surround her with positive memories.’