The family of Leah Stewart, the 34-year-old primary school teacher mauled by a suspected great white shark at Coogee beach on Saturday, is grappling with the severity of her injuries and the impact on her 18-month-old daughter. Stewart remains on life support at St Vincent's Hospital after the attack, which occurred while she was swimming close to shore.
Her brother, Joshua Stewart, described the situation as 'tragic', noting that Leah had done everything right by swimming between the flags. The family is bracing for further news on injuries to her legs, as she has already undergone an arm amputation. 'There are multiple, quite serious injuries,' Joshua said, adding that the full extent of the damage remains unknown.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover anticipated specialised medical expenses. The family expressed gratitude to first responders, including lifesaver Charlie Verco, who paddled into the bloodied water to rescue Stewart.
The attack has sparked debate over shark management, with former prime minister Tony Abbott calling for a cull. However, experts like Professor Rob Harcourt argue a cull would not reduce risk, and Premier Chris Minns ruled out the proposal, noting great whites are a protected species. The government has authorised temporary drone surveillance over Coogee beach to monitor shark activity.
