Just finished: Leah Stewart’s first words after waking from a coma are haunting many 💔🦈
Just finished: Leah Stewart’s first words after waking from a coma are haunting many 💔🦈
Following the shark attack in Coogee, she reportedly uttered a question that left everyone heartbroken.
But the detail that moved the whole of Australia was something that remained by her hospital bedside — the surfboard leash that Leah was still clutching when she was pulled out of the water… 👇🌊
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The 35-year-old continues her recovery after surviving the Coogee shark attack, but according to friends, one image from the final seconds before the attack still hasn’t left her mind.
Leah Stewart has taken a significant step forward in her recovery at St Vincent’s Hospital, briefly emerging from an induced coma after more than a week of life support and multiple surgeries. The news has brought a wave of cautious hope to her family and the thousands following her story. Yet amid the medical milestones, those closest to her reveal that one vivid image from the moments immediately preceding the attack remains fixed in her mind — a mental picture she returns to repeatedly in her early moments of awareness.
That image is of her one-year-old daughter August playing happily on the sand at Coogee Beach. In the final seconds before Leah entered the patrolled waters just 30 metres from shore on Saturday, June 13, 2026, she glanced back at her daughter — a sunlit snapshot of August toddling contentedly, safe and absorbed in play. Friends say this single, ordinary moment has not left Leah’s thoughts. Even as she fights through pain and disorientation, her mind loops back to it, seeking reassurance that her child was okay in those last unburdened seconds.
This recurring memory aligns with the deeply emotional first words Leah shared when doctors were able to extubate her and reduce sedation for a short period. According to her brother Joshua, Leah’s first words were “I love you,” directed at her mother and partner Fernando, who have maintained a constant vigil at her bedside in the ICU. Almost immediately, her thoughts turned to August. She wanted to know her daughter was safe and okay. The family described the moment as a miracle that came faster than anyone expected, shifting the mood in the hospital room from guarded concern to tearful relief and renewed hope.
The attack that led to this long recovery was sudden and devastating. While swimming in the flagged area at one of Sydney’s most popular beaches, Leah was struck by a large great white shark estimated at around four metres. She suffered severe bites to her arms and legs, massive blood loss, fractures, and wounds heavily contaminated with sand and debris. An off-duty surf lifesaver, Charlie Verco, heroically rescued her, paddling out on his board and bringing her back to shore. Leah lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital in critical condition. Surgeons performed emergency procedures, including the amputation of her left arm, and she was placed in an induced coma to aid healing.
Joshua has kept the public updated through the family GoFundMe page, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Leah’s extensive rehabilitation needs, prosthetics, home modifications, and care for young August. In recent statements, he emphasised that while this awakening is a positive first step, Leah remains in ICU and faces further surgeries and a long road ahead. The family has expressed profound gratitude for the medical team and the overwhelming community support, including a large swim-out at Coogee where over a thousand people showed solidarity.
Leah’s early recovery has followed patterns that friends and family find both heartbreaking and inspiring. She has persistently asked about those final minutes on the beach, expressed fears that the shark was still present, and posed questions about how August might remember her. The swimsuit she wore that day, carefully brought from the scene, remains untouched beside her bed. Now, the vivid mental image of August playing safely has become another central element in her processing of the trauma — a mother’s heart clinging to the last moment of normalcy and joy before everything changed.
Coogee Beach and surrounding areas have seen a mix of resilience and heightened caution. Swimmers have returned, but with greater awareness. The incident has prompted renewed national discussions about shark mitigation, with calls for enhanced drone surveillance and other non-lethal measures. Sightings of great whites near popular beaches like Bondi in the days following Leah’s update have kept the conversation alive, underscoring the ongoing challenges of coexistence with marine life.
As deputy principal at Hurstville Adventist School, Leah is remembered for her energy, dedication, and passion for both education and ocean conservation. Colleagues and students have sent messages of love and support, while the broader community has rallied with practical help — meals, childcare for August, and emotional encouragement. Fernando’s steady presence and Leah’s mother’s nursing background have provided crucial anchors during the most difficult days.
Medically, the path forward involves continued intensive care, additional procedures, physical rehabilitation, prosthetic training, and psychological support. The family acknowledges the challenges but draws strength from this latest milestone. Joshua described the progress as “everything so many of us have hoped and prayed for,” giving hope for Leah’s long-term recovery despite the critical care she still requires.
The image that lingers in Leah’s mind — August safe and happy in those final seconds — symbolises what she was fighting to return to. Friends believe it serves as both a comfort and a motivator, reinforcing her maternal drive as she rebuilds. In time, they hope, such memories will help transform trauma into resilience, allowing her to create many more joyful moments with her daughter on the beach she loves.
Australia continues to follow Leah’s journey with empathy and admiration. From the heroic rescue to these tender first words and persistent memories, her story highlights the fragility of life, the power of love, and the strength of community. As she takes incremental steps forward in the ICU, the nation holds hope for brighter days ahead — days when that final image becomes the start of countless new, cherished memories rather than a haunting reminder of what nearly was.
