Sydney teacher hit shark with 'left hook' during attack
An Australian school teacher mauled by a large shark at a Sydney beach says she fired a "left hook" at the predator before it dragged her underwater.
A primary school teacher in Sydney was attacked by a large shark at Coogee Beach on June 13. Leah Stewart, who was swimming in the clear sea, heard a girl scream and saw a massive fin behind her, initially thinking it was a dolphin. Realizing it was a shark, she screamed "shark, shark, shark." As the shark approached, Ms Stewart decided she had to defend herself, opting to punch it with her left arm, as she was right-handed.
She felt the shark grab her forearm and rip away her skin and muscle. The predator then pulled her underwater, and she took a deep breath, determined to survive for her young daughter. She continued to punch the shark until it released her. A paddleboarder named Charlie Verco helped her to shore. Ms Stewart spent about 10 days in an induced coma before regaining consciousness.
Australian scientists attribute the increase in shark attacks to rising ocean temperatures, which may be altering sharks' migratory patterns.
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