Leah Stewart, 34, survived the attack of an approximately 4-meter great white shark at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia. The incident occurred in June when she was returning to the beach after completing her usual Saturday morning swim. The shark pulled Stewart underwater and bit her on the thigh and arms, causing extreme blood loss that led to the amputation of her left arm.
Before the attack, Stewart heard a little girl screaming behind her and, when she turned around, she saw a huge fin behind the child. She realized the size of the animal and concluded it was not a dolphin. When the shark approached, the two came face to face, with the animal about 30 centimeters from Stewart's face.
According to her, upon realizing the shark's approach, she reacted by trying to push it away with punches. Leah Stewart became known as "the woman who punched the shark" after surviving the attack. The case has reignited attention to shark attacks in the Sydney region, which although rare, cause great impact when they occur.
