Sydney shark attack victim wakes up from induced coma

A woman bitten by a shark while swimming at a popular Sydney beach more than a week ago woke up shortly after a coma, her family said.

Leah Stewart was attacked by a shark at Coogee Beach on Saturday, June 13, suffering multiple bites to her arms and legs and extreme blood loss.

The 34-year-old mother, who is in critical condition, has undergone several surgeries, including the amputation of her arm.

On Tuesday, his brother said doctors reduced Stewart’s medications so he could wake up shortly after the coma. “I love you,” he said to his mother and partner at her bedside and asked if his daughter was okay.

“This is so much faster than anyone expected and to us this feels like a miracle and everything many of us had hoped and prayed for this past week,” Joshua Stewart said in an online message to his sister’s supporters.

He said he remained in intensive care and underwent surgery for five days last week, with more planned in the coming weeks.

“Leah has a long road ahead of her and she is still in intensive care, but this is a very positive first step and gives us hope for Leah’s long-term recovery.”

Stewart, who works as a teacher, had gone for a swim at Coogee Beach on Saturday morning and was in the water near the shore when the attack occurred.

There have been a number of shark attacks in Australia this year; There were four attacks over a two-day period in January, including a young boy who was bitten on a Sydney beach and later died from his injuries in hospital.

There were two fatal shark attacks last month in Queensland, where a man was killed by a shark while spearfishing, and in Western Australia, 38-year-old father-of-two Steven Mattaboni died after being bitten by a 4-metre (13ft) shark.