Schoolteacher Leah Stewart, who was mauled by a shark while swimming at a Sydney beach last month, says messages of support from family in New Zealand have given her comfort during a difficult recovery, according to her brother.
Josh Stewart, who set up a GoFundMe page for his sister, said in a weekend update that Leah had struggled to sleep since the attack and had spent difficult nights reading messages of support — not only from family and friends in Australia, but from her "whānau in New Zealand", and people around the world. He said the messages had given her "real comfort and strength".
Stewart, 34, was attacked on June 13 while swimming close to shore and within the flags at Coogee Beach, by what is believed to have been a 3.5m great white shark.
She suffered life-threatening injuries including multiple bites, fractures and extreme blood loss, was placed on life support, and has undergone several surgeries, including one arm being amputated.
Her brother said Leah's first words after briefly being woken from an induced coma were "I love you", directed at her mother and partner Fernando, who have remained by her side in intensive care. Her first thoughts were with her one-year-old daughter, August.
As of a June 25 update, Stewart had stabilised and was no longer critical, though further surgery and extensive rehabilitation lie ahead due to nerve and tendon damage in her remaining arm.
The family's GoFundMe page, which will go directly toward supporting Leah, Fernando and their daughter, has raised more than A$512,000 (NZ$625,000). The family has thanked lifesavers, first responders and staff at St Vincent's Hospital for their care.
The attack also prompted the New South Wales Government to announce year-round drone surveillance of beaches and an extra A$87 million for shark mitigation, while hundreds of swimmers later gathered at Coogee Beach in a show of solidarity with Stewart.
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