Shark attack survivor Leah Stewart has taken a profound step forward in her recovery, returning to the beach and placing her feet in the ocean for the first time since she was mauled by a four-metre great white shark more than three months ago. The 34-year-old primary school teacher made the visit hand-in-hand with her young daughter on Tuesday, describing the moment as an unplanned but deeply significant milestone.
An Unplanned but Powerful Moment
Stewart shared the experience with her followers in an Instagram post on Wednesday, revealing that the beach visit had not been a deliberate exercise but emerged organically when she noticed her fear had loosened its grip.
"I hadn't planned to touch the water or sand for the first time yesterday — I was standing on the grass and realised I didn't feel fear in my chest," she wrote.
Focusing on the sensation of cold water on her toes and the reassurance of her daughter's hand, Stewart said the moment carried immense emotional weight after months of psychological work to overcome her trauma.
"Not too long ago the thought of the beach would trigger a flashback, but after lots of work it felt so good to feel the water again," she said. "As I heal I'm starting to live without the fear that absolutely controlled me and come back to what I love with a deeper appreciation of the little and big things."
Stewart was attacked while swimming between the flags and close to shore at Coogee Beach, where the shark bit her legs and arms and dragged her underwater. She managed to punch the shark on the snout before a 24-year-old world champion paddleboarder and surf lifesaver, Charlie Verco, paddled through blood-filled water to bring her back to shore — doing so with the knowledge the shark could still be lurking nearby.
A Gruelling Road to Recovery
Upon reaching shore, Stewart was attended to by lifeguards, an off-duty critical care doctor, paramedics and members of the public who worked to stabilise her condition. She was rushed to hospital, where she spent 10 days in a coma and underwent surgery to amputate one of her arms.
Despite the severity of her injuries, Stewart has since defied expectations, gradually rebuilding her strength and confronting her trauma. For more on the realities of surviving a shark attack and what recovery looks like, survivor accounts highlight the long physical and psychological journey that follows such a life-threatening event.
A Chance Encounter with the Kit That Helped Save Her Life
During Tuesday's beach visit, Stewart came across a Shark Bite Kit — the same type of emergency kit that was used to help save her life on the day of the attack. She stopped to film a video urging other beachgoers to familiarise themselves with where the kits are located.
"Dr Ian Ferguson had already spotted it before my incident, so he knew exactly where to go, ran and got it, and then we used the tourniquet to hold my leg, we used the blanket to keep me warm, and the gloves and all of the different things in there," Stewart said. "I'm very thankful that I had this here with me on the day I needed it most."
The Shark Bite Kits were created as a grassroots initiative by high school teacher Danny Schouten after several of his close friends were attacked by sharks. The kits have since been rolled out across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Each kit contains tourniquets, compression bandages, dressings, a thermal blanket, amputated-part bags, gloves, a whistle and straightforward first-aid instructions. Schouten has noted that applying a tourniquet within minutes of a major bleed can dramatically increase a victim's chances of survival while awaiting emergency services.
The NSW Government provided a significant funding boost in December last year, financing an additional 150 kits to be installed at beaches outside metropolitan areas. Stewart's public endorsement of the kits during her emotional return to the beach is likely to further raise awareness of the potentially life-saving resource.
