Leah Stewart was left critically injured after a shark attack in Sydney, Australia on Saturday, June 13
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- A woman who was attacked by a shark at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia on June 13, is still on life support in the hospital
- Leah Stewart, 34, “is still in ICU and has required extensive surgery this week,” her brother Joshua wrote in a GoFundMe update on Wednesday, June 17
- The teacher and mother is due to have “more highly complex surgery,” per the update
A woman who was left critically injured following a shark attack in Australia is still on life support in the hospital.
PEOPLE previously reported that “loving mother” and teacher Leah Stewart, 34, sustained “severe and life-threatening injuries” when a shark attacked her during a morning swim near the shore at Coogee Beach in Sydney on Saturday, June 13.
Her brother Joshua also previously wrote on GoFundMe that she had to have her arm amputated after suffering “multiple bites” and “extreme blood loss” in the attack.
On Wednesday, June 17, Joshua said in an update on the fundraiser that his sister “is still in ICU and has required extensive surgery this week.”
Credit: gofundme
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“She remains on life support,” he continued. “The doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital have been amazing, as have the highly skilled teams of surgeons.”
Joshua went on to say that Stewart was due to have “more highly complex surgery today.”
“Given the extensive open wounds contaminated with sand and debris, the risk of infection is extreme,” he wrote.
“Please pray for her during her continued surgery and for her body to heal without infection,” Joshua continued.
He added that their mom Christine, who is a nurse, had been by Stewart's side every day in the ICU, “as has Leah's partner Fernando.”
Stewart's friends have also been curating her favorite songs in a playlist to play beside her bed, while the family plans to put photos of memorable moments around her hospital room “for when she becomes conscious,” her brother continued.
Credit: Getty
Joshua clarified that his sister was 34 years old despite reports of her being 35. He then added that her partner Fernando “was also not at the World Cup," when the shark attack occurred, but "was presenting at a conference overseas for his work."
PEOPLE previously reported that a friend was supervising Stewart's toddler on the beach at the time of the incident, per the Sydney Morning Herald. Fernando also traveled back to Australia once he was informed about the attack.
Lifeguard Charlie Verco, 24, was nearby when he saw Stewart being dragged under the water during the incident, local outlet 9 News reported at the time.
Credit: OLIVER HOTHAM / AFP via Getty
After paddling near where Stewart was, Verco said, “There was a lot of blood in the water.”
Once the shark released her, Verco “got close enough to grab her and put her on my board and take her to shore.”
After being stabilized by lifeguards, police and an off-duty critical care doctor, Stewart was flown to hospital with a severely mauled left arm and leg, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
“We share our sincere thanks and gratitude to the lifesavers, first responders, helicopter crew, and the dedicated medical team of doctors, nurses, and support staff at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney who have been caring for Leah,” Joshua said in St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney's release at the time.
PEOPLE reached out to St Vincent's Hospital Sydney for further comment.
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