Leah Stewart, 34, revealed her heart stopped after a June great white shark attack at Coogee Beach and that bystanders performed CPR as she was taken to an ambulance. The attack caused life-threatening injuries, including the amputation of an arm and a severe bite to her leg. After more than a week on life support she was extubated and spoke to family, first asking about her one-year-old daughter. Her family raised over $400,000 via GoFundMe and has closed the fundraiser while she focuses on recovery and rehabilitation.
Shark-Attack Survivor Leah Stewart Says Her Heart Stopped — Bystanders Performed CPR En Route to Ambulance
Leah StewartCredit: GoFundMe
Leah Stewart, a 34-year-old teacher and mother, revealed a startling new detail about the shark attack that nearly cost her life at Coogee Beach on June 13: her heart stopped as rescuers carried her to an ambulance and bystanders performed CPR and rescue breathing to keep her alive.
Leah Stewart and her daughterCredit: GoFundMe
Chaotic Rescue and Critical Care
Speaking on Ben Fordham Live on Sept. 15, Stewart said she only learned recently that responders had to perform CPR while she was being moved to emergency care. "I didn't know this until two weeks ago, that my heart actually stopped as they were taking me to the ambulance and they were giving me CPR and breathing for me," she told listeners. "There were so many split-second moments where if the exact right person wasn't there, I wouldn't be here."
Leah Stewart and her daughterCredit: Gofundme
Severe Injuries and Life Support
The attack — attributed to a great white shark during a morning swim — left Stewart with severe, life-threatening injuries and major blood loss. She was placed on life support, underwent multiple surgeries and ultimately required the amputation of one arm. Family members say she spent time in a medically induced coma and later began the slow process of recovery in hospital.
Leah Stewart and her daughterCredit: Gofundme
"They truthfully didn't think I would make it to the hospital and very nearly I didn't," Stewart recalled. Rescuers and ICU staff were reportedly astonished when her condition improved enough for her to speak and move.
First Words and Family
More than a week after the attack, doctors were able to extubate Stewart and reduce sedation. Her first words upon waking were "I love you," spoken to her mother and her partner Fernando, who had remained at her bedside. Her immediate concern was for her one-year-old daughter, August, and she asked whether the child was safe.
Wounds, Recovery Plans, and Community Support
In addition to losing an arm, Stewart's leg sustained a large bite and remains an open wound being treated by surgeons. She told Fordham that once her leg is closed she plans to focus on rebuilding strength — possibly avoiding the ocean for now but hoping to return to the water via swimming in a pool.
The family set up a verified GoFundMe run by her brother, Joshua Stewart, which raised more than $400,000 to help cover medical costs and support the family. After reaching their goal, they closed the fundraiser. Leah expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support, saying the donations have helped secure housing and options for future care.
Why This Rescue Matters
Leah Stewart's story highlights how rapid, coordinated action by bystanders and emergency crews can mean the difference between life and death in traumatic incidents. As she begins rehabilitation, her case remains a powerful reminder of both the fragility of life and the resilience of survivors and communities that rally around them.
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