Get you up to speed: Shark attack victim shares her biggest fear when beast gripped onto her leg | News World
Leah Stewart, a 34-year-old teacher and mother, was attacked by a shark while swimming at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, on June 13. She sustained life-threatening injuries, leading to the amputation of her arm, and has spent over two weeks in critical condition in hospital.
Leah Stewart was hospitalised for more than two weeks following the shark attack and underwent an amputation due to her injuries. A GoFundMe campaign raised nearly £300,000 for her medical treatment before it was closed to donations.
Leah Stewart has expressed gratitude for the nearly £300,000 raised through a GoFundMe fundraiser, stating it has provided her family with essential support for medical treatment and recovery. Following the attack, the Coogee Beach Surf Life Saving Club and Randwick City Council hosted a community swim to promote safety awareness and solidarity, indicating ongoing local engagement with beach health and safety measures.
What remains unclear — The specifics of Leah Stewart’s ongoing recovery plan and future medical treatments have not been disclosed.
Shark attack victim Leah Stewart reflects on fear for her child’s future
Leah Stewart was attacked by a shark at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia (Picture: Gofundme)
A woman who lost her arm in a shark attack has described the moment the animal clamped onto her leg and the terrifying thought that immediately went through her mind.
Leah Stewart, a 34-year-old teacher and mum-of-one, was swimming at Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs when she came face-to-face with a shark on June 13.
As the animal attacked, Stewart said that her mind instantly turned to her one-year-old daughter.
‘It was holding onto my leg, then I just thought of August,’ she said in her first media interview with 60 Minutes Australia since the attack.
‘I thought, “She’s not going to have a mum. She’s going to grow up without a mum”.
The mum-of-one was left with life-threatening injuries (Picture: Gofundme)
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‘I couldn’t handle that. I didn’t want her to not have a mum.’
Stewart was left with life-threatening injuries and spent more than two weeks in a critical condition in hospital.
Her injuries were so severe that doctors were eventually forced to amputate her arm.
Recalling the moment she saw the shark, Stewart said its face was ‘horrific’ and she would ‘never forget it’.
‘It was a monster,’ she said.
Providing an update, she said that she now sees a way back to something resembling normal life.
In a statement on a GoFundMe fundraiser that was set up to cover her medical treatment, Stewart said: ‘After what has been an incredibly difficult few months, I’m so happy that I’ve progressed enough to build some independence, and I can finally see some light after all of this.
‘I’ve been actively trying to do everything in my power to get back to some sort of normal life.
Stewart broke down in tears during her first media interview since the attack (Picture: Nine)
Stewart came face-to-face with the shark while swimming in the ocean (Picture: Reuters)
‘I still have a long way to go, but my recovery has been remarkable, and a huge part of that is because of the absolute army of love, support, prayers and encouragement surrounding my family and me from all over the world.’
Nearly £300,000 was raised in the fundraiser before it was closed to donations.
She added: ‘I want to say the biggest thank you for looking after me, for caring for my family, and for being generous enough to help my family through this.
‘What you’ve offered has given us enough to recover, to stay in our home, and to give us options for further medical treatment down the road.’
‘As I get better, I know I’ll make something of this second chance and aim to give back even more in generosity, care and love.’
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