- Leah Stewart was attacked by a great white shark in Sydney.
- Driven by thoughts of her daughter, she fought off the shark underwater before being assisted to shore by off-duty volunteer lifeguard Charlie Verco.
- Onshore responders, including lifeguards, police officers, and an off-duty doctor, applied tourniquets and performed CPR to save her life following severe blood loss.
- In response to the incident, New South Wales authorities are expanding shark-mitigation measures, including enhanced drone surveillance and new detection buoys.
Leah Stewart, 35, faced a harrowing encounter with a four-metre great white shark at Coogee Beach in Sydney on June 13. After repeatedly punching the shark, she was rescued by off-duty lifeguard Charlie Verco, who helped her to shore.1
Stewart sustained severe injuries, leading to the amputation of her left lower arm and a week in a medically induced coma. "I just kept thinking about my daughter," she recalled, emphasizing her determination to survive the attack.
Onshore, lifeguards, police officers, and an off-duty doctor quickly applied tourniquets and performed CPR to combat the severe blood loss she experienced. "I owe my life to them," Stewart stated, expressing gratitude for the rapid response of the emergency team.
In light of this incident, New South Wales authorities are enhancing shark-mitigation measures, including increased drone surveillance and new detection buoys, to ensure beachgoer safety in the future.4
“Onshore responders, including lifeguards, police, and an off-duty doctor, applied tourniquets and performed CPR to save her life after severe blood loss. In response, New South Wales authorities are expanding shark-mitigation measures with enhanced drone surveillance and new detection buoys.”
The Independent
