Shark attack at Coogee Beach leaves woman critically injured; community and safety responses
Consensus Summary
On June 13, 2026, a 35-year-old woman named Leah Stewart, a teacher and mother of a one-year-old daughter, was attacked by a great white shark while swimming between the flags at Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The attack occurred around 11:15 AM, leaving her with severe injuries to her left leg and arms, requiring multiple surgeries, including the amputation of one arm. Off-duty volunteer lifeguard Charlie Verco rescued her by towing her to shore on a paddleboard, and she was airlifted to St Vincent’s Hospital in critical condition. The incident led to the closure of Coogee, Clovelly, and Bronte beaches for at least 48 hours and reignited debates about shark mitigation strategies in New South Wales. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority granted a temporary exemption to allow drones to patrol Coogee Beach, despite its proximity to Sydney Airport, and the NSW government announced plans to expand shark drone surveillance across more beaches. Leah Stewart briefly woke from an induced coma on June 24, speaking her first words, 'I love you,' to her family, and over $500,000 has been raised to support her recovery. The attack has caused significant psychological impact on the community, with many locals rethinking their use of the beach and heightened vigilance in place.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A 35-year-old woman, Leah Stewart, was attacked by a shark at Coogee Beach on June 13, 2026, around 11:15 AM, suffering severe injuries to her left leg and arms.
- Leah Stewart is a 35-year-old teacher and mother of a one-year-old daughter named August.
- Leah Stewart was swimming between the flags at Coogee Beach when the attack occurred.
- Leah Stewart underwent multiple surgeries, including the amputation of one arm, and was placed on life support after the attack.
- Off-duty volunteer lifeguard Charlie Verco rescued Leah Stewart by towing her to shore on a paddleboard.
- The shark responsible for the attack was identified as a great white shark, approximately 3 to 4 meters in length.
- Coogee Beach, along with nearby Clovelly and Bronte beaches, was closed for at least 48 hours following the attack.
- The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) granted a temporary exemption to allow drones to patrol Coogee Beach for shark surveillance, despite its proximity to Sydney Airport.
- Leah Stewart was airlifted to St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney for treatment.
- Leah Stewart briefly woke from an induced coma on June 24, 2026, and spoke her first words, 'I love you,' to her family.
- Over $500,000 has been raised in a public fundraiser to support Leah Stewart’s recovery.
- The attack occurred about 30 meters offshore from Coogee Beach.
- NSW Premier Chris Minns ruled out culling protected great white sharks but did not rule out culling bull sharks.
- The NSW government announced plans to roll out 'world-leading' shark drones across more beaches in the state.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Leah Stewart’s brother, Joshua, shared updates on her condition via an online fundraiser page.
- Leah Stewart’s partner, Fernando, was traveling overseas at the time of the attack.
- A community swim-out was held at Coogee Beach on June 21, 2026, with over 1,000 swimmers participating to support Leah Stewart.
- Andre de Ruyter, who lost a leg in a shark attack at Manly Beach, re-entered the water five months after his attack.
- Leah Stewart’s brother, Joshua, described her as 'awake, alert, and no longer critical' on June 25, 2026.
- Drone footage from the Drone Shark App showed both great white and tiger sharks at Bondi Beach on June 24, 2026.
- Marine biologist Rob Harcourt stated that sharks are following Australian salmon migrating up the coast, which are attracting sharks to feed.
- Stephen Denneny, a drone operator, captured footage of the shark swimming in Coogee Bay after the attack, noting a patch of dark water likely to be blood.
- The Minns government announced $2.5 million to boost beach safety, including more drones patrolling beaches, but only over the summer months.
- Leah Stewart’s family described her as a passionate advocate for improving water quality and an accomplished swimmer.
- Charlie Verco, the paddleboarder who rescued Leah Stewart, described the shark as 'about 3.5 meters' in size, one of the largest he had ever seen.
- Leah Stewart had competed in the Coogee Island Challenge in 2024 alongside her partner and swam over 50 kilometers to raise money for breast cancer research in November 2025.
- The attack has prompted a seismic effect on surfers and swimmers, with many changing their habits and avoiding the water.
- The woman was airlifted to the hospital to undergo immediate treatment for severe injuries to her limbs.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian and ABC report Leah Stewart is 34 years old, while SMH and The Age report she is 35 years old.
- The Guardian and ABC state Leah Stewart was swimming between the flags at the time of the attack, while The Age and SMH mention she was swimming laps across the length of the beach.
- The Guardian and SMH report Leah Stewart’s first words after waking from the coma were 'I love you,' while ABC also confirms this but adds she first asked about her daughter August.
- The Guardian and SMH report the shark was identified as a great white shark, while The Age and SMH mention the shark was approximately 3 to 4 meters in length, with The Age specifying 3.5 meters.
- The Guardian and ABC report that drones were granted a temporary exemption to fly over Coogee Beach, while SMH and The Age mention this exemption was made permanent after initial temporary approval.
Source Articles
Chilling footage shows shark moments after Coogee Beach attack
A three-metre shark swims slowly across the bay moments after a woman was pulled from the water with severe injuries.
Sydney shark attack survivor awake, alert and ‘remembers the whole event in detail’, brother says
Australian woman Leah Stewart no longer in critical condition but doesn’t yet have use of her hand Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A woman who was attacked by a shark at Sydney’s Coogee’s beach is no longer in a critical condition and “remembers the whole event in detail”, her brother has said. Leah Stewart’s brother, Joshua, provided the update on a fundraising site on Thursday, writing that it was “amazing to hear from her so much sooner than anyone expected” and t
Woman fighting for her life after shark attack at popular Sydney beach
Suffering severe injuries to her limbs, the woman was airlifted to hospital for immediate treatment.
'I love you': Sydney shark attack survivor's first words to family
A Sydney mother mauled by a shark at Coogee Beach almost a fortnight ago has spoken her first words after briefly waking from an induced coma.
Breaking: Woman suffers critical injuries after shark attack in Sydney's east
A woman is in a critical condition after being bitten by a shark at a beach in Sydney's east.
'Devastated' family reveal scale of young mother's shark attack injuries
Leah Stewart was swimming at Coogee Beach when she was attacked just before 11am on Saturday.
Woman suffers critical arm and leg injuries in shark attack at Sydney beach
A woman is in a critical condition after being bitten by a shark at a beach in Sydney's east.
'Overjoyed': Shark attack victim reunited with daughter after waking from coma
The 34-year-old's brother said she was awake, speaking with loved ones and her medical team and "remembers the whole event in detail".
Woman in critical condition after shark attack at Coogee Beach
A woman in her 30s is being treated by NSW Ambulance after being bitten by a shark at the eastern suburbs beach.
Woman attacked by shark at Coogee beach wakes briefly from coma to say three words
‘I love you,’ Leah Stewart told her mother and partner after being extubated on Tuesday Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A woman attacked by a shark at Sydney’s Coogee beach has uttered her first words after waking from a coma 10 days after sustaining her injuries. “I love you,” Leah Stewart told her mother and partner after being extubated on Tuesday. She was bitten by a great white shark on 13 June . Continue re
‘There was a lot of blood in the water’: paddleboarder rescues woman after ‘shocking’ Coogee shark attack
Charlie Verco managed to grab hold of the woman and bring her back to shore after the Sydney shark attack on Saturday Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Elite paddleboarder Charlie Verco has only seen one shark bigger than the one he saw on Saturday at Sydney’s Coogee beach. The North Bondi athlete was training for July’s world championships in Hawaii on Saturday morning when he heard a swimmer shouting “shark”. Con
‘I couldn’t fight off the shark’: The hero paddleboarder who rescued Coogee attack victim
Charlie Verco paddled furiously to help when he saw a 35-year-old woman being mauled by a white shark at Coogee Beach.
Swimmers return to shark attack beach to support Sydney mum
A community reeling from a shark attack off Sydney which left a woman in critical condition is returning to the water for a swim-out to support the victim's family.
Coogee shark attack survivor loses arm, family pay tribute
The family of Leah Stewart, 35, say they have been “shocked and devastated” by the attack on the young mother and ocean lover.
'Very freaky': Off-duty volunteer lifeguard recounts saving woman attacked by shark
An off-duty volunteer lifeguard who pulled a woman from the ocean after she was bitten by a shark reveals how he helped save her life while in a state of "panic" himself.
Coogee returns to the ocean, with a remarkable message from shark attack victim’s family
Sunday’s fundraiser for Leah Stewart helped ease the psychological tussle between the lure of the ocean and a fear of its most dangerous predators.
‘It just turned into havoc’: Woman in critical condition after shark attack at Coogee Beach
Witnesses have described the terrifying scene when a woman was bitten by a three-metre shark at the popular eastern suburbs beach.
‘Awake and alert’: Shark attack survivor no longer critical, reunited with daughter
Leah Stewart’s family also revealed she remembers the Coogee attack in detail and will share her story in time.
‘Seismic effect’: How surfers are shifting habits after Coogee shark attack
Veteran surfer Nick Carroll is not one to change his ways following shark attacks but expects others will after a young mother was mauled on Saturday.
A swimmer was attacked by a shark at one of Australia’s most popular beaches. How rare is it – and how can you stay safe?
Experts say animal was likely a white shark rarely seen at Coogee – different from bull shark attacks in NSW over the summer Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A woman is in hospital in a critical condition after being bitten by a shark at Sydney’s Coogee beach, one of Australia’s most popular swimming spots. The incident follows a series of shark attacks in New South Wales over the summer, prompting concern among beachgoers and renewed debate about how authorities shou
Shark attack survivor’s first words after emerging from coma
Leah Stewart has taken some positive first steps on a long-road to recovery. Meanwhile, another shark survivor has re-entered the water.
Woman has arm amputated after Coogee shark attack, ‘devastated’ family say
Family of Sydney mother Leah Stewart say they are ‘shocked’ and reveal more surgeries scheduled in coming days Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The woman injured in Saturday’s shark attack at Coogee beach has had her arm amputated and remains in a critical condition, her family has revealed. Leah Stewart, a 35-year-old schoolteacher, mother and dedicated ocean swimmer, was attacked by a suspected 3.5-metre great w
‘She’s amazing’: Coogee shark attack survivor an ocean lover and young mum
The mauling of Leah Stewart, 35, at her local beach has renewed debate about the state’s shark mitigation strategies.
Australia news live: Experts push back at call for shark cull after attack; university students report freedom of speech fears
Little evidence a cull would make swimming safer, scientists say. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Little evidence for shark culls to improve beach safety, experts say Experts warn there is little evidence shark culls keep ocean-goers safer following the latest shocking encounter at a busy city beach, AAP reports. Continue reading...
‘I couldn’t fight off the shark’: The hero paddleboarder who rescued Coogee attack victim
Charlie Verco paddled furiously to help when he saw a 35-year-old woman being mauled by a white shark at Coogee Beach.
Woman in critical condition after shark attack at Coogee beach
A woman in her 30s has been transported to hospital with arm and leg injuries after the attack at the Sydney beach Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A woman in her 30s is being treated for injuries after being bitten by a shark at Coogee Beach on Saturday. A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said the woman was in a critical condition with arm and leg injuries. Continue reading...
Chilling footage shows shark moments after Coogee Beach attack
A three-metre shark swims slowly across the bay moments after a woman was pulled from the water with severe injuries.
‘Like a horror movie’: Coogee’s regulars think twice about swimming after shock shark attack
‘Saddened, stunned, surprised and haunted’ is how one surfer describes the mood at the popular Sydney beach two days after Leah Stewart was bitten by a great white Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Under a clear blue sky on a Monday morning, Coogee beach in Sydney’s east is quiet. A few swimmers have ventured into the ocean pools at the northern and southern ends of the beach. Most others sit on the sand, looking towards the water. Continue reading...