A morning swim at one of Sydney's most popular beaches left a 35-year-old mother on life support after what officials say was a great white shark attack. Leah Stewart was mauled near shore at Coogee Beach on Saturday and has since undergone multiple surgeries, including an arm amputation, St. Vincent's Hospital and her family say, per People. She remains in critical condition with severe blood loss and multiple bite wounds, including to her left leg.
An off-duty lifeguard, 24-year-old Charlie Verco, told local media he paddled out after seeing commotion in the water and blood spreading, then pulled Stewart onto his board and brought her to shore, where an off-duty critical care doctor and others worked to stabilize her before she was airlifted to a hospital. Stewart, an experienced ocean swimmer, had left her 1-year-old daughter with a friend on the beach while her partner was overseas. A GoFundMe organized by her brother has raised nearly $100,000 to support her lengthy recovery and get her "back to being a mom."
Beaches in Sydney's eastern suburbs reopened Monday, with drone surveillance to monitor for sharks. Following other recent attacks, former prime minister Tony Abbott suggested there should now be a shark cull, per the Guardian. However, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns rejected the idea as unlikely to work, with an expert noting it wouldn't change the risk of shark attacks.
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