Mum Who Spent Two Weeks in a Coma After Shark Attack Breaks Down Recalling the ‘Monster’ That Nearly Took Her From Her Daughter
A young Australian mother has spoken publicly for the first time about the terrifying moment a great white shark attacked her during a morning swim, leaving her with life-changing injuries and memories she says will never fade.
Leah Stewart, 34, a teacher and mother of a toddler, was swimming between the flags at Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on 13 June 2026 when the shark struck. Witnesses described hearing a scream and seeing a pool of blood in the water. Off-duty medics and beachgoers rushed to help, applying tourniquets at the scene as she was pulled from the sea. She was rushed to hospital in a critical condition suffering multiple severe bites to her arms and legs, deep lacerations, fractures and extreme blood loss.
Surgeons performed an arm amputation and a series of operations over the following days. Stewart was placed in a medically induced coma for nearly two weeks while doctors worked to stabilise her. When she first briefly woke, her earliest words were expressions of love for her family and concern for her young daughter, August.
In a recent interview, Stewart described the attack in vivid detail. She said she will never forget the shark’s face, calling it a “monster” and “horrific.” As the animal held onto her leg, her thoughts turned immediately to her daughter. The fear that August might grow up without a mother gave her the strength to fight. She later reflected that she could not accept the possibility of leaving her child motherless and pushed herself to survive.
Stewart’s recovery has been long and demanding. She has undergone multiple further surgeries and faces ongoing rehabilitation for nerve and tendon damage in her remaining arm. Supporters around the world contributed more than AU$550,000 through a fundraising campaign, money that has helped cover medical costs, support her family and secure options for future treatment including a prosthetic arm. In a recent update she thanked donors, noting that she can finally see some light after difficult months and feels she has been given a second chance at life that she does not intend to waste.
The incident occurred amid a series of shark encounters along the Australian coast in 2026, including fatal attacks earlier in the year. Authorities closed nearby beaches following the Coogee attack while searches and monitoring continued. Great white sharks are a protected species in Australian waters, limiting certain management options.
Stewart’s account highlights both the sudden danger that can exist even in supervised swimming areas and the powerful human drive to survive for the sake of family. Two months after the attack she continues to focus on healing, rebuilding independence and looking ahead with her partner and daughter. Her story underscores the resilience required to recover from catastrophic trauma while carrying the lasting memory of the predator that changed her life in seconds.
