Shark Attack Survivor Says 3 Words After Coma

Ten days after a shark mauled her at a popular Sydney beach, Leah Stewart was briefly taken out of an induced coma and managed three words to her mother and partner: "I love you." The 34-year-old teacher and mother of a 1-year-old, was attacked by a great white at Coogee on June 13 and has since undergone five days of surgeries, including amputation of one of her arms, with more procedures expected, her brother wrote on a fundraising page that had raised close to $500,000 by Wednesday morning, per the Guardian.

Stewart remains in intensive care after suffering bites to her arms and legs, many fractures, and lots of blood loss, per News.com.au. ABC Australia reports that she was saved from her ordeal by an off-duty lifeguard who dragged her back to shore, and that people back on land helped tourniquet her and administer CPR. Stewart "will continue to require this high level of care and support for some time" in the ICU, her brother wrote on GoFundMe.

Meanwhile, shark fears have spiked along Sydney's coast. A great white and a tagged tiger shark were detected off of Bondi this week, prompting temporary beach closures. The incident has revived debate over shark culls, although great whites are a protected species and can't be targeted, while New South Wales plans an expanded "world-leading" drone surveillance program to monitor sharks at more beaches.