Leah Stewart, 35, a Sydney woman who lost an arm after being bitten by a shark at Coogee Beach in June, said on Monday she feels she has been given a 'second chance at life' and does not intend to waste it, in her first public statement since the attack.
Sydney shark attack survivor Leah Stewart says she has been given a 'second chance at life'
Leah Stewart, 35, a Sydney woman who lost an arm after being bitten by a shark at Coogee Beach in June, said on Monday she feels she has been given a 'second chance at life' and does not intend to waste it, in her first public statement since the attack.
Stewart was attacked during a morning swim at Coogee Beach and suffered multiple bites to her arms and legs. She was subsequently placed in an induced coma and underwent several surgeries, including the amputation of one arm.
In an online post, Stewart said her recovery had been 'incredibly difficult' but that she was making 'remarkable' progress, crediting what she described as 'an absolute army of love, support, prayers and encouragement' from around the world.
An online fundraiser established for Stewart has raised more than AU$550,000 (US$394,000; £289,000). Stewart announced the fundraiser would now be closed, saying the money would allow her to recover at home and provide 'options for further medical treatment down the road.'
Stewart's attack was one of several shark incidents in Australia this year. Four attacks occurred over a two-day period in January, including one involving a 12-year-old boy who later died from his injuries. In May, a man was killed by a shark in Queensland while spearfishing, and a father of two died in Western Australia after being attacked by a 4-metre (13-foot) shark.
- The source does not state the species of shark involved in the Coogee Beach attack.
- The source does not specify the date in June when the attack occurred.
- The source does not state when the fundraiser was formally closed.
- The source does not describe the current status of any official response or beach safety measures following the attack.
- The source does not identify the platform on which Stewart published her online post.