In brief
Leah Stewart, a teacher from Sydney, was bitten by a shark on June 13 at Coogee Beach, suffering multiple bites and severe blood loss. She was rushed to hospital, underwent several surgeries—including an arm amputation—and has been in an induced coma. On Tuesday doctors reduced her medication, allowing her to briefly open her eyes and speak "I love you" to her family. This event comes amid a spate of shark attacks across Australia, raising concerns about beach safety. The family remains hopeful as Stewart continues to recover in intensive care.
Leah Stewart – 34, a teacher – was attacked on Saturday 13 June at Coogee Beach. The incident left her with multiple bites to her arms and legs, severe blood loss, and required several surgeries, including the amputation of an arm.
Doctors recently reduced her medication to allow her to wake up briefly. In the brief moments of consciousness, she managed to say "I love you" to her mother and partner, then asked if her daughter was okay. Her brother Joshua posted an emotional message to supporters, calling the moment a miracle and expressing hope for her recovery.
Stewart remains in intensive care. She has undergone five days of surgery this past week and more are scheduled in the coming weeks. She faces a long road to recovery, but her brief awakening provides a glimmer of hope for her family and the broader community.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of a surge in shark attacks across Australia this year. In January alone there were four attacks in two days, and last month two fatal incidents were reported – one in Queensland and one in Western Australia.
Officials continue to monitor shark activity near popular beaches and advise the public to stay informed about safety alerts.
