Leah Stewart learns to tie her hair one-handed after amputation
Leah Stewart has reached a personal recovery milestone four months after a suspected shark attack at Sydney’s Coogee Beach led to the amputation of her arm below the elbow. The teacher and mother has learnt to plait and tie her hair with one hand, after hundreds of attempts, showing how she is gradually regaining independence in everyday tasks.
Stewart was swimming between the flags on 13 June when she was attacked; she spent two weeks in a coma and underwent several operations. She returned to Coogee to speak to locals at a community bay swim about safety measures and helping people feel confident in the water. An experienced ocean swimmer, she hopes to join a future swim, possibly if drones are operating and a shark net is in place.
- Leah Stewart plaited and tied her hair one-handed.
- She lost an arm after a suspected shark attack in June.
- She hopes to return to ocean swimming with safety measures.
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Coogee Beach is a popular swimming spot in Sydney, where marked areas called “flags” indicate the section watched by lifeguards. Shark incidents are rare, but they can lead to debate about how to protect swimmers while keeping beaches open.
After serious injuries, an amputation can mean learning new ways to manage daily tasks and regain independence. Leah Stewart is a teacher and mother who has spoken with local swimmers about beach safety; her experience connects personal recovery with wider questions about how people feel safe in the water.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Shark attack survivor Leah Stewart celebrates major recovery milestone four months after losing her arm and ties her hair on her own”.