SHE FINALLY GOT TO HOLD HER BABY AGAIN… – Twelve days after surviving the terrifying shark attack at Coogee Beach, Leah Stewart has been reunited with her baby in an emotional milestone that has touched hearts across Australia.
A new mother who suffered life-changing injuries after being mauled by a shark in Sydney nearly two weeks ago is no longer in a critical condition and has finally been reunited with her baby daughter.
Leah Stewart, 34, was left fighting for life following the great white shark attack at Coogee Beach on June 13.
She is now awake and stable following multiple surgeries, including an arm amputation, with her brother Joshua confirming she has ‘continued to make progress’ over the last few days and was on Thursday reunited with August, her daughter.
‘Leah has been brought out from the heavy sedation and is now awake and alert and has been able to speak with our family and her medical team,’ he said on Thursday.
‘It’s amazing to hear from her so much sooner than anyone expected.’
He added that Leah and August were ‘overjoyed’ at seeing each other for the first time since she was hospitalised, with the pair having never been separated before.
‘Leah has seen some of the lovely messages we’ve received and looks forward to getting back to people when she can, but doesn’t yet have the use of her hand,’ he wrote.
He especially thanked staff at St Vincent’s Hospital where Ms Stewart was rushed to after she was pulled from the water and where she will undergo another surgery on Friday.
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Leah Stewart’s condition has been upgraded to awake and stable following a shark attack
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Emergency services at Coogee Beach on June 13 when Ms Stewart was brought ashore
She had been pulled onto a paddleboard and taken ashore by an off-duty lifeguard, Charlie Verco, who happened to be in the surf nearby when the shark struck.
‘In time Leah will want to share more of her story, she remembers the whole event in detail, but for now is focused on resting and healing,’ Joshua added.
‘Leah has shown she is so strong, fighting to come back to her daughter August.
‘Again a huge thank you to everyone for your messages of love and care, generosity, prayers and support.’
Ms Stewart was given multiple blood transfusions on the beach before being airlifted to St Vincent’s.
The primary school teacher, who works at Hurstville Adventist School, was then put on life support.
Along with the amputation of one arm, she also suffered nerve and tendon damage to her other arm, but is expected to regain full use of it over time.
A fundraiser to help Ms Stewart with her rehabilitation, prosthetics and medical bills has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the figure at just over $500,000 on Thursday.
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Ms Stewart works as a primary school teacher with one person who knows her saying she was a fan of the TV show survivor and was now miraculously a survivor herself
Coogee Beach was not being monitored by shark surveillance drones when the attack unfolded because the area lies beneath a flight path.
Authorities were later given an exemption for drones to temporarily monitor shark activity.
The shark involved is believed to have been between three and four metres long.
One person said they knew her when she worked as a teacher at Sydney Adventist School in Auburn about 10 years ago.
‘My friend and I had been watching Australian Survivor and were discussing the finale,’ they wrote.
‘Miss Stewart overheard, asked if we were talking about Survivor, and quickly said, ”Don’t tell me who won, I haven’t seen it yet”.
‘She then said she wanted to go on Survivor. Well, 10 years later, she is a survivor.
‘She will take on the challenges and come out on top. I wish you, her, and your families nothing but the best.’
