In June, Leah Stewart was involved in a shark attack while swimming at Coogee Beach in Sydney. Stewart, who suffered the loss of her arm during the incident, recently spoke about the experience, stating that she punched the shark to escape its grip. She described the intensity of the encounter by comparing the physical struggle to 'fighting a dinosaur.'

According to Stewart, the primary motivation that kept her fighting during the attack was the thought of her daughter. While shark attacks remain statistically rare, this incident has drawn attention due to the survivor's account of active resistance against a great white shark. The Independent reports that Stewart’s decision to strike the animal was a critical factor in her ability to reach safety. No other official accounts from witnesses or emergency services were provided in the report to corroborate the specific sequence of events, leaving the narrative centered on the survivor's personal recollection of the trauma.