Australian shark attack victim grateful for 'second chance at life'

Leah Stewart was bitten by a shark at Sydney's Coogee Beach during a morning swim An Australian woman bitten by a shark at a popular Sydney beach earlier this year says she has been given a "second chance at life" and will be making the most of it. Leah Stewart, 34, was mauled by a shark during a morning swim at Coogee Beach in June, suffering multiple bites to her arms and legs, amid a spate of attacks in Australia. The mother-of-one was placed in an induced coma and had several surgeries, including having one of her arms amputated. She's gonna grow up without a mum'." Fighting back tears, she goes on: "I couldn't handle that, I didn't want her to not have a mum. I just thought, I've got to fight it, do everything I can to be here." There have been a spate of shark attacks in Australia this year, with four attacks over a two-day period in January, including one on a 12-year-old boy who later died from his injuries.

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Scoop News DeskSydney · Published Monday, August 24, 2026 at 5:31 AM UTCUpdated Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 2:52 AM UTC

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Woman seriously injured in shark attack at Sydney beach Sydney woman wakes from induced coma more than a week after shark attack Surfer injured in fourth shark attack in Australian state in 48 hours Fatal attack revives debate over controversial shark nets in Australia Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC Organised crime arrests in A66 crash investigation How the deadly A66 crash unfolded leaving seven dead Burnham vows support for Ukraine despite 'outrageous threats' from Russia Charity? An online fundraiser for her would now be closed, she wrote, with the money raised giving her the chance to recover at home as well as "options for further medical treatment down the road". "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 I from all over the world." In an interview with Nine Network's 60 Minutes, due to be aired this weekend, Stewart described seeing the shark's "horrific" face. "I'll never forget its face - it was a monster," she says. "It was holding onto my leg and I just thought of (my daughter) August, and I thought, 'she's not going to have a mum.

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