‘It was like fighting a dinosaur’: Sydney shark attack survivor recalls left hook that helped save her life

Leah Stewart, a Sydney teacher, recounts the harrowing experience of fighting off a great white shark that attacked her while swimming at Coogee beach. The encounter resulted in the loss of her arm, but she credits her quick thinking and physical resistance with saving her life.
Why it matters
The story provides a rare, first-hand account of survival in a shark attack, highlighting the physical and emotional trauma of such incidents.
Leah Stewart with her daughter. She was attacked by a shark at Sydney's Coogee beach in June. Photograph: Gofundme Leah Stewart with her daughter. She was attacked by a shark at Sydney's Coogee beach in June. Photograph: Gofundme Australia news ‘It was like fighting a dinosaur’: Sydney shark attack survivor recalls left hook that helped save her life Leah Stewart, who was bitten while swimming at Coogee beach, says she asked herself ‘which limb am I willing to lose’ as she fought back
Prefer the Guardian on Google An Australian woman who lost an arm after a shark attack at a Sydney beach has described delivering a “left hook” punch to the four-metre great white as its open mouth came within centimetres of her face.
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