Source : Perth Now news
There were blue skies and a light breeze on the day swimmer Leah Stewart was mauled by a great white shark.
A week later, it seemed only fitting the same perfect conditions greeted her community on Sunday as thousands of people returned to the water, many for the first time since the shocking attack.
The 35-year-old mum remains in a critical condition after undergoing multiple surgeries for her injuries – including an arm amputation – since the June 13 incident.
A great white shark, which is a protected species, is thought to have been responsible, despite Ms Stewart swimming between the flags and “doing all the right things”.
At least 1000 people joined Sunday’s organised swim-out, led by Coogee Surf Life Saving Club and Randwick City Council, with thousands more gathering on the beach to show their support.
Surveillance drones, lifeguards on jet skis, inflatable rescue boats and 20 rescue board paddlers watched over the swimmers to keep them safe.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief Steven Pearce, who joined the swim-out, said there was no doubt the enhanced safety measures helped reassure those scared of returning to the beach.
“There was not a cloud in the sky and water clarity was extremely clear, so we could spot everything … it was just a gorgeous morning,” he told AAP.
“It was a really nice vibe. It really amplified what the Australian community is all about, coming out and embracing the community.”
Local MP and active lifesaver Marjorie O’Neill said the swim-out was a wonderful display of community spirit and support, spanning all ages and backgrounds.
“For most people in our community, the water is our place where we get reprieve, it’s a safe space … at the end of the day it is where you go to wash off what’s happened,” she told AAP.
“So what happened to Leah last week has shaken our community.
“So it was an event to bring us together, get us back in the water and wrap our arms around each other and around Leah and her family and raise some money for them too.”
After the swim-out, the local surf club hosted a barbecue and a bake sale, with proceeds going to the Stewart family.
The attack reignited calls to cull shark populations to protect swimmers, but Premier Chris Minns said the great white shark population could not be targeted as it was protected.
However, he admitted a rethink on how the issue of sharks should be approached was needed after several bull shark attacks in January.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has granted a temporary exemption for aerial surveillance of Coogee Beach in the wake of the attack.
The beach is about eight kilometres from Sydney Airport.
Shark nets, which are temporarily removed during the winter whale migration season, will be reinstalled at the start of September.
A GoFundMe page set up to help with Ms Stewart’s recovery process, access to prosthetics, rehabilitation and ongoing care has raised more than $460,000.
