A young mother mauled by a great white shark at one of Sydney’s most popular beaches is an accomplished swimmer and ocean lover, known in her local community as a passionate advocate for improving water quality.
Beaches in the city’s eastern suburbs reopened on Monday morning – two days after Coogee woman Leah Stewart, 35, was attacked while swimming at her local beach, renewing debate about NSW’s shark mitigation strategies.
Lifesavers at Coogee will use drones to monitor the water after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority temporarily lifted a ban prohibiting them from being flown over the beach because it is in the flight path of commercial airlines.
Stewart was on Monday morning in a critical but stable condition at St Vincent’s Hospital. The attack has rattled the tight-knit Coogee community, where locals who know Stewart and her partner say the 35-year-old was passionate about improving the suburb’s water quality and sharing her love for the ocean.
“She’s amazing,” a local who asked not to be identified said.
“It’s just horrendously sad.”
Stewart has lived in Coogee for several years and is an accomplished swimmer, having competed in the Coogee Island Challenge in 2024 alongside her partner, according to online results. In November, she swam more than 50 kilometres to raise money for breast cancer research. She and her partner welcomed a child early last year and are often seen enjoying the water.
“As a breastfeeding mum, I have a whole new appreciation for these incredible organs and want to do my part in supporting the fight against the most common cancer in women,” she wrote on her fundraising page.
A friend was minding Stewart’s toddler on the beach when she was attacked while swimming about 30 metres from shore. Her partner was travelling overseas at the time. He returned to Australia when he learnt of the attack.
Off-duty lifeguard Charlie Verco, 24, paddled towards Stewart and the shark before pulling the 35-year-old from the water. On the beach, an off-duty critical care doctor, lifeguards, police and council personnel helped to stabilise Stewart, who was flown to hospital with a severely mauled left arm and leg.
Incidents involving white sharks are rare in NSW, which experienced a spate of bull shark attacks last summer that heaped pressure on the state government’s shark mitigation strategies. Those, as well as the attack on Stewart, have sparked calls for a cull in NSW.
NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday said the government was considering a bull shark cull. White sharks would not be targeted because of their protected status.
Under an emergency exemption, lifesavers can fly drones over Coogee and are pushing to make the change permanent.
“Drones have proven to be the No.1 factor in the shark mitigation strategy for swimmer and surfer protection,” Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said.
A community welfare forum will be held at Coogee Surf Life Saving Club on Monday night.
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