- Leah Stewart, 34, was attacked by a great white shark while swimming at Coogee Beach on 13 June, suffering severe injuries that led to the amputation of her left arm.
- During the attack, Stewart described her fight with the shark, saying, "it was like fighting a dinosaur" as she punched it repeatedly to escape.
- After being rescued by other swimmers, she was placed in an induced coma and underwent almost a dozen surgeries for her life-threatening injuries.
- Stewart has publicly shared her experience, emphasizing her determination to survive for her daughter, August.
- Reflecting on her recovery, Stewart expressed a new perspective on life, stating, "I’ve been given a second chance" despite her ongoing struggles.
- Stewart described the shark's appearance as horrific, noting its black little beady eyes and massive mouth as it approached her.
- She recalled the moment of the attack, stating, "the shark got as close as 30cm from my face," which heightened her fear.
- In a moment of desperation, Stewart made a split-second decision to deliver a left hook to the shark, asking herself which limb she was willing to lose.
- Stewart described the physical struggle as like punching a brick wall, but she persevered until she was released from the shark's grip.
Leah Stewart, 34, was attacked by a four-meter great white shark while swimming at Coogee Beach on June 13. "I heard a girl behind me… a shrill shriek. I turned and there was a huge, huge fin behind her. It was massive," she recounted.1
As the shark approached, Stewart realized it was not a dolphin. "I looked at the size of it and I realised that's not a dolphin," she said. The shark's face was "horrific" with "black little beady eyes" and a "massive" mouth.6
In a desperate fight for survival, Stewart thought of her one-year-old daughter, August. "In my head, I was like, 'You are not taking me away from my daughter,'" she said. She delivered a left hook to the shark, describing the experience as "like fighting a dinosaur".8
"I just knew I couldn't leave her... I know it sounds strange but I sort of willed myself back," Stewart recalled. Despite sustaining severe injuries, including the loss of her left arm, she fought back. "It was like punching a brick wall," she said.9
After being rescued by other swimmers, Stewart was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent multiple surgeries and was placed in an induced coma. "I'm the woman that punched the shark in the face," she proudly stated, reflecting on her harrowing experience.3
“Stewart, a teacher and mother of one-year-old August, was dragged under at Coogee Beach in June, suffering extreme blood loss and injuries that led to the amputation of her left arm. She says she 'willed herself back' after thinking of her daughter, and now sees herself as 'the woman that punched the shark in the face'.”
The Guardian
