She fought a 4m great white to get home to her daughter — then came the reunion that broke hearts
Shark attack survivor Leah Stewart has reunited with the “absolute legends” who helped save her life following a horrific attack.
The Sydney mum was swimming between the flags at Coogee Beach, in Sydney’s east, when she was attacked by a shark on June 13.
Lifeguards and beachgoers rushed to her aid before she was hospitalised and placed into a coma.
She underwent multiple surgeries, including a partial arm amputation, over several weeks.
Leah Stewart pictured with her daughter. Picture: Go Fund Me
Ms Stewart posted an image to Instagram with two of the lifeguards who performed CPR on her during the terrifying ordeal.
“Got to meet these absolute legends today,” she said.
“Last time we met they were performing CPR and breathing for me, this time we had a big hug and got to hang out at Maroubra Surf Lifesaving Club.
“Thanks for being literal life savers.”
Coogee shark attack survivor Leah Stewart, pictured with her partner Fernando has begun sharing her miraculous story of survival. Picture: 60 Minutes
Ms Stewart has begun sharing her miraculous story of survival and appeared on 60 Minutes this week where she recounted coming face-to-face with the 4m great white shark.
The brave mum recalled how she struck the shark while it had hold of her thigh and pulled her under the water.
“I just thought of August and I thought, ‘She’s not going to have a mum. She’s going to grow up without a mum’, and I couldn’t handle that,” she told 60 Minutes.
Sydney shark attack survivor Leah Stewart said thoughts of her daughter helped her fend off a 4m great white that attacked her at Coogee Beach. Picture: 60 minutes
“I didn’t want her not to have a mum, so I just thought, ‘I’ve got to fight it. I’m going to do everything I can to be here’.
“I just started punching it over and over and over again, just punch, punch, punch.
“It was like fighting a dinosaur, it was so big. It was like punching a brick wall.”
Ms Stewart was helped to shore where trauma specialist Ian Ferguson had stopped for a coffee and rushed over to help.
Leah Stewart says she is alive because on her unluckiest day absolute heroes stepped in and stepped up. Picture: Go Fund Me
Dr Ferguson drilled into the bone marrow of her shoulders to get fluids and blood into her body, which has been credited with saving her life.
“I’m here, I’m alive and I can do this. I am constantly aware that on my unluckiest day I somehow survived because of the absolute heroes that could step in and step up,” Ms Stewart said on Instagram.
“I owe my life to them and beyond gratitude, I want to pay forward the absolute army of support I’ve been blessed with.”
