A mother who had her arm amputated following a shark attack has raised over $270,000 (£142,000) in less than a day while she remains in critical condition in the hospital.
Leah Stewart, 35, was swimming near the shore at Coogee Beach on June 13 when she was attacked by a shark, sustaining severe injuries with multiple bites on her arms and legs, as well as lacerations, fractures, and significant blood loss.
During the attack, a great white shark approached Ms. Stewart while her one-year-old daughter was playing with a friend just a few meters away on the beach. Off-duty lifeguard Charlie Verco, 25, witnessed the incident from his paddleboard and rushed to her rescue, managing to pull her out of the water.
Describing the intense rescue, Verco recounted to ABC News that the water turned bloody, and Ms. Stewart was briefly submerged before resurfacing when the shark released her. Despite her shock and inability to engage in conversation, she managed to ask for help and follow instructions.
Ms. Stewart lost consciousness on the way back to shore as Verco paddled her to safety, where paramedics administered multiple blood transfusions to stabilize her condition. She was then airlifted to St Vincent’s Hospital in critical condition, undergoing numerous surgeries for her life-threatening injuries, including the amputation of her arm.
To support her recovery, Ms. Stewart’s brother launched a GoFundMe campaign, raising over $293,000. The funds will aid in covering her medical expenses and upcoming surgeries as she remains in a critical state.
Following the incident, it was revealed that Coogee Beach was not under surveillance by shark drones due to its location beneath a flight path. However, authorities have since granted a special exemption to monitor shark activity in the area temporarily.
Those wishing to contribute to Ms. Stewart’s recovery can donate through the GoFundMe page.