The family of a young mother mauled by a shark in Sydney have shared a heartwarming health update.
Leah Stewart, 34, was brought out of her induced coma for long enough to share her first words with her mother and partner since she suffered critical injuries in the shark attack at Coogee Beach on June 13.
“Some really wonderful news for Leah today,” Leah’s brother Joshua Stewart said in the health update on Tuesday.
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“After a week of life-support and repeat surgeries, doctors were able to extubate Leah and reduce her level of sedation to bring her out of the induced coma for a short period of time.”
“This allowed Leah to share her first words ‘I love you’ with her Mum and partner Fernando who have been by her side in the ICU since the incident.
“Her first thoughts were with her daughter August and wanted to check she was OK.”
The major improvement to Leah’s condition comes earlier that expected.
It was only on Monday that her family had released a statement to a nation gripped by the tragedy, warning them that Leah would likely remain in the critical but stable condition she was in for some time.
‘This is a lot faster than anyone expected,” Joshua said on Wednesday.
“For us this feels like a miracle and is everything so many of us have hoped and prayed for over the past week.
“Leah remains in ICU and will continue to require this high level of care and support for some time.
“She has undergone five days of surgery over the past week, and is scheduled for further surgeries today and more through the coming weeks.
“Leah has a long road ahead and still remains in critical care, but this is such a positive first step and gives us hope for Leah’s long term recovery.”
Leah suffered bites to her arms and legs, significant blood loss and fractures throughout her body during the attack.
One of her arms need to be amputated, and wounds contaminated with sand and debris caused an extreme risk of infection.
Leah was swimming during the day, between the flags at one of Sydney’s most popular swimming beaches when she was attacked.
It rocked the local community, and at least 1000 people joined a swim-out, led by Coogee Surf Life Saving Club and Randwick City Council, with thousands more gathering on the beach to show their support for Stewart on Sunday.
Fear of sharks on the NSW coast have heightened, with the attack prompting renewed calls for greater investment in shark mitigation measures.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has not ruled out drone surveillance at some of the states busiest beaches, telling Sunrise it’s something his government is considering.
A great white shark was spotted at Bondi Beach on the same day that Joshua shared the family health update, with a second sighting at Bondi Beach closing the water to swimmers on Wednesday.
