Family of Coogee shark attack victim Leah Stewart share update
The family of a shark attack victim has given an update on the Sydney mother’s condition and thanked the community for their support.
Leah Stewart was attacked on Coogee beach on June 13.
He suffered life-threatening injuries from bites to his arms and legs, multiple broken bones, and massive blood loss.
Last week, her brother Josh said his beloved mother had woken up from a coma.
In another update on Saturday, Josh thanked the community for their continued support.
“Leah and I were sharing some of the beautiful messages we had received and she loved them and was inspired by the care and love you all shared,” he said.
“Leah has had some tough days but has found real strength from your kindness and support and wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who shared her story, sent her uplifting messages and supported her.
“Since the incident Leah has had trouble sleeping and on those nights she has been reading messages from not only her family and community in Australia and her whānau in New Zealand, but also from people all over the world.
“They gave him real comfort and strength.”
Josh said in an update last week that after repeated surgeries, doctors were able to extubate Leah and reduce her sedation level to briefly bring her out of a coma.
“This allowed Leah to share her first words, ‘I love you,’ with her mother and partner Fernando, who had been with her in intensive care since the incident,” he said.
Meanwhile, the fundraiser set up by Mr Stewart has raised more than $540,000, including $5000 from Bunnings and $2240 from 4Seasons Swimmers Bondi.
The NSW government announced on Wednesday it would fly drones over beaches throughout the year following a series of shark attacks.
The state government has allocated an extra $87 million in the budget for shark mitigation and more funding will be coming, but it has not yet been confirmed which beaches will have an eye in the sky.
