A teacher who survived a horrific shark attack has fought back tears as she vividly recalled the only thing on her mind during the terrifying ordeal.
Leah Stewart, 34, was left fighting for her life after the great white shark attack while swimming between the flags at Sydney‘s Coogee Beach on June 13.
She spent two weeks in a coma and underwent multiple surgeries, including the amputation of one of her arms.
Two months on, the mother-of-one has broken her silence in an emotional interview set to air on 60 Minutes next Sunday.
She remembers everything from that morning and how her survival instincts kicked in for the sake of her one-year-old daughter, August.
‘Its face was horrific – I will never forget. It was a monster,’ Ms Stewart told Tracy Grimshaw.
‘It was holding onto my leg.
‘All I was thinking of was August and I thought, she’s not going to have a mum.’
Shark attack survivor Hannah Stewart fought back tears as she recalled the horrific ordeal
Survival instincts kicked in for the sake of her one-year-old daughter August
‘I couldn’t handle that. I did not want her to grow up without a mum.
‘I just thought, I’ve got to fight it and do everything I can to be here.’
The interview will also air the triple-0 call.
‘Hi, we’ve got a shark attack at Coogee beach,’ a female beachgoer told the operator.
‘There’s a lot of blood.’
It comes after Ms Stewart shared a heartfelt message about her progress on a fundraiser which has raised more than $558,000.
‘I want to say the biggest thank you for looking after me, for caring for my family, and for being generous enough to help my family through this,’ Ms Stewart began.
‘I am constantly overwhelmed at how supportive people I know, and even strangers, have been, and how much they’ve cared about my family to make such an impact on our lives.’
Ms Stewart feared that her baby girl would grow up without a mum
The teacher was left fighting for life following the great white shark attack while swimming between the flags at Coogee Beach on June 13
‘After what has been an incredibly difficult few months, I’m so happy that I’ve progressed enough to build some independence, and I can finally see some light after all of this.’
The money raised will allow Ms Stewart and her family to stay in their home and consider further medical treatment down the road.
‘I’ve been actively trying to do everything in my power to get back to some sort of normal life.
‘I still have a long way to go, but my recovery has been remarkable, and a huge part of that is because of the absolute army of love, support, prayers and encouragement surrounding my family and I from all over the world. That means more to me than I can say, and I truly believe it’s played a huge role in my recovery.’
Ms Stewart vowed not to waste the second chance at life she has been given.
‘As I get better, I know I’ll make something of this second chance and aim to give back even more in generosity, care, and love,’ she wrote.
‘I will forever be grateful for everything, and everyone, I’ve been given.
‘You’ve inspired me to get better, not bitter.’
