World3 min(s) read
A woman was swimming in clear waters just 100 feet off a Sydney beach when a beautiful day turned into a fight for survival.
A four-meter great white shark surfaced near a group of swimmers and quickly targeted Leah Stewart.
As the predator approached with its mouth opening, Stewart made a split-second decision to protect her face and body. She used her left arm to block the shark, which clamped down and inflicted severe injuries before pulling her underwater by her leg.
Driven by the thought of her one-year-old daughter, August, Stewart refused to give up. She flipped herself around underwater and struck back, repeatedly punching the ocean predator directly on the tip of its sensitive snout until the animal finally released its grip.
During an interview on Good Morning Britain, Stewart recalled the intense moments when the shark approached her. She noted that the creature was moving slowly and inquisitively before it opened its mouth.
"As the shark got closer to me, it started to open its mouth. And I just knew it was going to get my body or my face. And so I had to use my arm to try and block the shark from biting me," Stewart said.
When the predator dragged her under the surface, panic set in, but her instinct to stay alive for her child took over.
"I just was thinking of her, and I thought, she's not going to have a mom. She's going to grow up without a mom. And I thought, I've just got to fight it. I've just got to punch it or do whatever I can to stop it from killing me," she explained.
After the shark let her go, Stewart surfaced in bloodied waters and managed to reach surfer Charlie Vero, who helped bring her to the shore. Once on the beach, a medical professional immediately stepped in to deliver critical care.
"There was actually a medical doctor on the sand who was able to instantly look after me. And I actually had a blood transfusion on the sand on the beach. He called up a helicopter that brought blood and fluids down to the beach," Stewart said.
The physician, Dr. Ian Ferguson, administered a blood transfusion directly through her bone marrow right on the beach, stabilizing her before she was rushed to the hospital.
Although Stewart lost her left arm and suffered severe damage to her leg, she remains focused on recovery and raising her daughter. She acknowledged that the psychological impact of the ordeal remains a daily struggle.
"I definitely do have PTSD, but for me, I've sort of disassociated from it. And I think that's my brain trying to protect me from it," Stewart shared during the broadcast.
She hopes to one day share the experience with her daughter through a storybook about how motherly love helped her overcome the frightening ordeal.
While she recognizes there is a long road of healing ahead before considering a return to the ocean, Stewart expressed deep gratitude for the bystanders, medical workers, and community members who helped save her life.
.webp_SmgFsc?tr=cr-292.0.1244.952,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
