Shark attack survivor Leah Stewart overcomes major fear in emotional return to beach

Shark attack survivor Leah Stewart has taken a major step in her recovery, returning to the beach and putting her feet in the water for the first time since the terrifying attack. The 34-year-old primary school teacher returned to the beach hand-in-hand with her daughter on Tuesday, more than three months after she was mauled by a 4m great white shark. “It took a lot of work to get to this point,” Stewart wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday. “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.”

Stewart said the milestone had not been planned, but instead happened naturally when she realised she was no longer overwhelmed by fear. “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 said. “As I got closer, I focused on the cold on my toes and the little hand holding mine. “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 swimming between the flags and close to shore at Coogee Beach when the shark attacked, biting her legs and arms.

As she was dragged underwater, Stewart managed to punch the shark on the snout before surf lifesaver Charlie Verco came to her aid. The 24-year-old world champion paddleboarder paddled through blood-filled water, knowing the shark could still be nearby, and helped bring Stewart back to shore. She was met by lifeguards, an off-duty critical care doctor, paramedics and beachgoers who worked to save her life. Stewart was rushed to hospital, where she spent 10 days in a coma and underwent surgery to amputate one of her arms.

She has since defied the odds to get back on her feet as she continues her recovery. The kit that helped save her life During Tuesday’s return to the beach, Stewart also came across a Shark Bite Kit — the same type of emergency kit used to help save her life. She stopped to express her gratitude and urged beachgoers to take note of where the potentially life-saving kits are located. “So the shark bite kit was actually used on me,” Stewart said in the video. “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. “I’m very thankful that I had this here with me on the day I needed it most.

“Hopefully you never have to use it, but if you do, it’s great if you can know where they are.” 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 installed across NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. The rollout received a major boost from the NSW Government in December last year, with funding for an additional 150 kits to be installed at beaches outside metropolitan areas. Each kit contains tourniquets, compression bandages, dressings, a thermal blanket, amputated-part bags, gloves, a whistle and simple first-aid instructions for treating a severe bite.

Schouten previously told 7NEWS.com.au that applying a tourniquet within minutes of a major bleed can dramatically increase the chances of survival, buying precious time until emergency services arrive. After learning one of the kits had been used to help save Stewart’s life, Schouten said he was “grateful” and described the moment as “surreal”. “I am really grateful that it was able to save her life and I am really grateful for the people that responded quickly and stood up and made a difference that day,” he said. “It’s all very surreal.”