The family of Leah Stewart, the 34-year-old mother who was mauled by a shark at Coogee Beach on June 13, has shared a heartwarming health update. Stewart was brought out of her induced coma for long enough to speak her first words to her mother and partner since the attack.
First Words: 'I Love You'
Leah's brother, Joshua Stewart, provided the update on Tuesday, describing it as "some really wonderful news." He said, "After a week of life-support and repeat surgeries, doctors were able to extubate Leah and reduce her level of sedation to bring her out of the induced coma for a short period of time. This allowed Leah to share her first words 'I love you' with her Mum and partner Fernando who have been by her side in the ICU since the incident. Her first thoughts were with her daughter August and wanted to check she was OK."
Recovery Faster Than Expected
The improvement came earlier than anticipated. Just on Monday, the family had warned that Stewart would likely remain in critical but stable condition for some time. "This is a lot faster than anyone expected," Joshua said on Wednesday. "For us this feels like a miracle and is everything so many of us have hoped and prayed for over the past week."
Stewart remains in the ICU and will continue to require a high level of care. She has undergone five days of surgery over the past week and is scheduled for further surgeries in the coming weeks. "Leah has a long road ahead and still remains in critical care, but this is such a positive first step and gives us hope for Leah's long-term recovery," Joshua added.
Details of the Attack
Stewart suffered bites to her arms and legs, significant blood loss, and fractures throughout her body. One of her arms required amputation, and wounds contaminated with sand and debris posed an extreme risk of infection. She was swimming during the day between the flags at one of Sydney's most popular beaches when the attack occurred.
Community Support and Renewed Safety Concerns
The attack shocked the local community. Over 1,000 people participated in a swim-out led by Coogee Surf Life Saving Club and Randwick City Council on Sunday, with thousands more gathering on the beach to show support. The incident has heightened fears of sharks on the NSW coast and prompted renewed calls for greater investment in shark mitigation measures. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has not ruled out drone surveillance at some of the state's busiest beaches, stating it is something the government is considering.
On the same day Joshua shared the health update, a great white shark was spotted at Bondi Beach, with a second sighting closing the water to swimmers on Wednesday.
