An Australian woman left without an arm after a shark attack at a beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has recalled the moment she came face-to-face with the “monster”. Leah Stewart, a 34-year-old teacher and mother of a one-year-old daughter, was attacked by a large shark while on a morning swim at Coogee beach on 13 June. She remained in a critical condition for more than two weeks while receiving treatment for life-threatening injuries that required the amputation of her arm.
In a snippet from her first media interview since the attack, Stewart recalled that her first thoughts during the attack were of her daughter. I thought, ‘She’s not going to have a mum. She’s going to grow up without a mum,’” she told Nine Entertainment.
I didn’t want her to not have a mum.” Through tears, Stewart said the shark’s “face was horrific” and that she would “never forget its face … it was a monster.” In an update to a fundraiser set up to cover Stewart’s medical procedures and support her family, she said on Sunday that she had been “focused on my healing” and thanked donors. I still have a long way to go, but my recovery has been remarkable, and a huge part of that is because of the absolute army of love, support, prayers and encouragement surrounding my family and me from all over the world.” The GoFundMe page has raised more than $558,925 since the June attack. Donations have now been turned off.
As I get better, I know I’ll make something of this second chance and aim to give back even more in generosity, care and love.”
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