‘Awake and alert’: Shark attack survivor no longer critical, reunited with daughter

A woman mauled by a shark at Sydney’s Coogee Beach is awake, no longer in a critical condition and has been able to see her young daughter for the first time since the attack.

Leah Stewart’s family also revealed she remembers the June 13 incident in detail. In time, she will share her story, the family’s latest update from St Vincent’s Hospital said.

The 35-year-old mother and teacher has been in intensive care since she was attacked almost two weeks ago and has undergone a series of surgical procedures, including the amputation of an arm.

On Thursday, Stewart’s brother Joshua said: “She has now been stabilised and is no longer critical.

“Leah has been brought out from the heavy sedation and is now awake and alert and has been able to speak with our family and her medical team,” he wrote.

“Both Leah and (daughter) August were overjoyed last night to see each other for the first time since the attack.”

The update came via an online fundraiser, which has raised over $500,000 from more than 7000 donors to support Stewart’s recovery.

“Leah has asked that we share her thanks and appreciation for everyone who has supported her through this difficult time, and her gratitude to the St Vincent’s hospital doctors, nurses and support staff who continue to be so caring,” Joshua Stewart wrote.

“In time, Leah will want to share more of her story. She remembers the whole event in detail, but for now, is focused on resting and healing as her doctors support her in pain management, tests, regaining some movement and preparing her for further surgeries tomorrow.”

Beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs were closed for the third consecutive day on Thursday after numerous shark sightings in the area.

Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama were the first to be evacuated after a white shark was spotted at Bondi about 6.45am.

“Third day running,” Jason Iggleden, who has been posting footage of sharks on Sydney beaches via the online platform dronesharkapp, said on Thursday.

“Great white shark at Bondi Beach, please stay out of the water,” he wrote.

Maroubra Beach was also closed after a shark was sighted just before 9.30am. Swimmers at Coogee were cleared from the water just hours later after another shark was sighted about 2pm.

The attack on Stewart has prompted debate over shark mitigation and management, with some calling for a cull.

“We’re not talking about decimating or making a species go extinct. We’re just there to control the populations,” the twin brother of northern beaches shark attack victim Mercury Psillakis told the Herald earlier in June.

Premier Chris Minns has hinted at a potential cull of bull sharks but noted white sharks are a protected species.

Bull sharks typically migrate north in the winter, returning south in the summer. White sharks are more active on the NSW coast between May and November.

Shark nets are used at 51 NSW beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong in spring and summer, but were removed at the end of March and are not due to go back in until September.

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