In brief
Leah Stewart was attacked by a shark at Sydney's Coogee Beach on 13 June, suffering severe blood loss and having an arm amputated. Doctors put her in an induced coma, which has now been partially reduced so she briefly awoke. Family members reported she said "I love you" to her mother and partner and asked if her daughter was okay. She remains in intensive care with more surgeries scheduled, while raising awareness about rising shark incidents in Australia this year.
Sydney woman wakes from induced coma more than a week after shark attack
Leah Stewart, a 34‑year‑old mother and teacher, was bitten by a shark on Saturday 13 June at Coogee Beach. The swimmer suffered multiple bites on her arms and legs and extensive blood loss.
She was taken to hospital in a critical state and underwent several surgeries, including the amputation of an arm. Her doctors placed her in an induced coma to aid recovery.
On Tuesday, her brother reported that medical staff had reduced her medications so she could wake up briefly from the coma. She managed to say "I love you" to her mother and partner, who were by her bedside, and asked if her daughter was okay.
Joshua Stewart posted an online message to supporters, describing the event as faster than expected and a miracle that gave hope for Leah’s long‑term recovery. He confirmed that she remains in intensive care and that more surgeries are scheduled over the coming weeks.
Stewart went for a swim in the water close to shore on Saturday morning, when the attack occurred see details of the incident.
Australia has experienced a spate of shark attacks this year, with four attacks in two days in January, including a fatal bite to a young boy, and recent fatal attacks in Queensland and Western Australia.
