‘I did think she was going to die’: How strangers saved shark attack victim Leah Stewart
The thought of not being there for her daughter helped Leah Stewart beat the shark away. But her fight was only beginning after making it to shore.
Leah Stewart recounted her harrowing encounter with a great white shark at Coogee Beach in Sydney, detailing how she fought off the creature to protect her daughter. The 35-year-old had her left arm amputated following the attack, which also left her in critical condition. During the interview with Nine's 60 Minutes, Stewart recounted the moment the shark pulled her underwater and 30 centimeters from her face.
She remembered shouting, "You ugly f***er, you are not taking me away from my daughter," as she fought back against the shark, describing it as "fighting a dinosaur" and "punching a brick wall." Off-duty volunteer lifeguard Charlie Verco witnessed Stewart thrashing in the water and managed to get her to cling onto his board despite her severe injuries.
Stewart was ultimately rescued and placed in a medically induced coma for over a week at St Vincent's Hospital.
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