SYDNEY: An Australian woman has survived a serious shark attack after repeatedly punching the animal when it dragged her underwater, according to Australian media reports.
Leah Stewart, a primary school teacher, was swimming at Sydney’s Coogee Beach on June 13 when she was reportedly attacked by a great white shark estimated to be about four metres long. She suffered severe injuries to her left arm and thigh and later required part of her left arm to be amputated.
Shark Dragged Her Underwater
Stewart said she was swimming back towards the shore when she heard a girl scream. When she looked behind her, she initially thought she saw a dolphin but soon realised it was a shark.
The animal approached close enough for her to see its face and teeth. Fearing that it could attack her face, Stewart decided to fight back and punched it with her left hand.
She said she is right-handed and had thought that if she lost a limb, she would rather it be her left arm. The shark then bit her left arm before grabbing her left thigh and pulling her underwater.
Woman Fought Back
While underwater, Stewart said she thought about her young daughter and became determined to survive. She twisted her body and repeatedly punched the shark until it eventually released her.
Describing the encounter, she said it felt like fighting a dinosaur and compared punching the animal to hitting a brick wall because of its size.
After the shark released her, Stewart surfaced and was helped back to shore by a nearby paddleboarder.
She was taken to hospital with serious injuries, placed in an induced coma and underwent surgery that resulted in part of her left arm being amputated. She regained consciousness about 10 days later.