‘SHE’S TALKING AGAIN!’: COOGEE SHARK ATTACK VICTIM LEAH STEWART WAKES FROM SEDATION IN STUNNING TURNAROUND AS FAMILY ADMITS THEY NEVER EXPECTED TO HEAR HER VOICE THIS SOON
A young mother mauled by a shark in Sydney is no longer in a critical condition and is able to speak “so much sooner than expected”.
Leah Stewart, 34, has been brought out of heavy sedation and is now stable, awake and alert, almost two weeks after she was attacked by a great white shark at Coogee Beach on June 13.
In an update on Thursday, her brother Joshua said Leah had “continued to make progress over the past days”.
“Leah has been brought out from the heavy sedation and is now awake and alert and has been able to speak with our family and her medical team,” he wrote.
“It’s amazing to hear from her so much sooner than anyone expected.”
Joshua said Leah and her daughter, August, were “overjoyed” to see each other for the first time since the attack on Wednesday night, adding the time apart marked the first nights they had ever spent away from one another.
He said the teacher wanted to thank everyone who had supported her through the ordeal, particularly the staff at St Vincent’s Hospital.
“Leah has seen some of the lovely messages we’ve received and looks forward to getting back to people when she can but doesn’t yet have the use of her hand,” he wrote.
While Leah is continuing to recover, her family said she still faces a long road ahead to recovery after one arm had to be amputated.
Her remaining arm suffered severe tendon and nerve damage and will require further surgery and intensive rehabilitation.
Leah is due to undergo more surgery on Friday and is focused on resting and healing.
“In time Leah will want to share more of her story, she remembers the whole event in detail, but for now is focussed on resting and healing,” Joshua said.
“Leah has shown she is so strong, fighting to come back to her daughter August.
“Again a huge thank you to everyone for your messages of love and care, generosity, prayers and support.”
Stewart was swimming with two friends between the flags at Coogee Beach when she was bitten on her arms and legs.
One of her arms needed to be amputated, and wounds contaminated with sand and debris caused an extreme risk of infection.
A GoFundMe page set up to support her recovery has raised more than $500,000.
SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/coogee-shark-attack-victim-leah-stewart-wakes-from-sedation-and-no-longer-critical-c-22485644
