In brief
Leah Stewart, 34, was bitten by a shark at Coogee Beach on 13 June and suffered severe blood loss and multiple injuries. After surgeries, including an arm amputation, she was placed in an induced coma. When doctors lowered her medication, Stewart briefly woke and communicated with her family. Her case comes amid a spate of shark attacks in Australia this year, prompting attention to marine safety and conservation.
Following a shark attack at Coogee Beach, Sydney teacher Leah Stewart has begun to awaken from an induced coma
Leah Stewart, a 34‑year‑old mother and teacher, was bitten by a shark on Saturday 13 June while swimming close to the shore. Multiple bites on her arms and legs caused extreme blood loss and left her in critical condition.
She was rushed to hospital, where she underwent several surgeries, including the amputation of an arm, before being placed in an induced coma to support her healing.
On Tuesday, doctors reduced her medication, allowing her to feel briefly conscious. Stewart whispered “I love you” to her mother and partner and asked her daughter if she was okay, sparking hope among her family and followers.
Her brother, Joshua Stewart, posted on social media that the recovery was faster than anyone expected and expressed relief that it “feels like a miracle.” He noted that she still remains in intensive care and that more surgeries are scheduled for the coming weeks.
The case is part of a worrying trend: Australia has seen a spate of shark attacks this year, with four incidents in a two‑day period in January and fatal bites in Queensland and Western Australia last month. The rising frequency underscores the need for better marine safety measures and greater respect for ocean ecosystems.
