Shark attack victim Leah Stewart says leg wound fully healed
After two failed skin grafts and months of uncertainty, great white shark attack survivor Leah Stewart has shared a major update on her condition.
After months of surgeries and rehabilitation, a woman who was attacked by a great white shark at Coogee Beach earlier this year has taken to social media to tell followers her leg has finally healed.
Leah Stewart, 36, had been swimming on Coogee Beach early in the morning on June 13 when a 4 metre long great white shark attacked her, ripping off her arm and taking a large chunk of flesh from one of her legs.
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Footage from the incident shows Ms Stewart being carried onto the beach by passers-by, as local lifeguards and paramedics prepare to give her lifesaving first aid.
On Sunday, Ms Stewart took to social media to tell her followers the good news.
“I have some very exciting news … my leg has finally healed. It has been a journey,” Ms Stewart said.
“In June of this year I was attacked by a great white shark that took part of my arm and a huge chunk of my leg … when I got to hospital, part of my quad muscle and my outer hamstring couldn’t be saved and I was left with a huge divot in my leg.
“St. Vincents are absolute miracle workers, and they managed to close the wound … it covered almost my entire thigh.”
Ms Stewart said the “miracle workers” at St Vincent’s Hospital used an advanced surgical implement called a Dermaclose to help close the wound.
“What it does is it hooks onto the outer parts of your skin and then self-winds and gradually pulls your skin together.”
Ms Stewart then underwent two skin grafts to help close her wound up the rest of the way, but the grafts failed and she was forced to wait until her skin began to naturally heal itself.
“It’s been four and a half months … keep in mind, it looks like a little bite … as you can see I’ve got a big scar there, but the fact of the matter is I can use my leg and I don’t have to wrap it up every time I have a shower or worry about infection.”
“I am just so happy. This is the best update for me.”
Originally published as Shark attack victim Leah Stewart says leg wound fully healed
