Mum Mauled in Sydney Shark Attack Halts £280K Fund After 'Second Chance at Life

Sydney shark attack survivor Leah Stewart has closed her GoFundMe fundraiser after supporters donated more than A$558,000 for her recovery. The Sydney mother said the amount already raised was enough to support her family through the next stage of treatment.

Stewart announced the decision in her first public update since the 13 June attack at Coogee Beach. She said she felt she had been given a 'second chance at life' and asked supporters to stop donating.

Why Leah Stewart Decided To Close Her Gofundme

Stewart's brother, Joshua Stewart, launched the fundraiser on 15 June. The campaign had a A$650,000 target and attracted about 7,600 donations before contributions were paused.

The GoFundMe page remains online with donations now paused. Stewart said the money would help her family stay in their home during her recovery and would leave options open for future medical treatment.

'At this point, I think it's appropriate for us to turn off donations on the GoFundMe,' she wrote. The campaign was created after Stewart suffered life-threatening injuries in the shark attack. The GoFundMe page detailed lacerations, fractures and severe blood loss.

Stewart's family said donations would support her recovery, access to prosthetics, rehabilitation and ongoing care. Joshua Stewart said the funds would go directly to Leah, her partner and their young daughter, and would also cover adjustments needed during her return to daily life.

Stewart's Message to Donors

Stewart thanked donors for the support they had shown since the attack. She described the past few months as 'incredibly difficult' but said her recovery had been 'remarkable'.

She said she had regained enough independence to notice progress. But she acknowledged that she still had a long recovery ahead. 'I feel like I've been given a second chance at life, and I'm not going to waste it,' Stewart wrote. She said the support had inspired her to 'get better, not bitter'.

Stewart said she hoped to give back as her condition improves. Her immediate focus remains rehabilitation and rebuilding her independence.

Closing the fundraiser does not mean her treatment has ended. Stewart said the family now has enough financial support to continue without seeking further public donations.

How the Coogee Shark Attack Changed Stewart's Life

Stewart was swimming close to shore within the flagged area at Coogee Beach when a shark attacked her on 13 June. Randwick City Council said the animal was believed to be three to four metres long.

Council lifeguards gave emergency first aid and CPR before paramedics arrived. Stewart left the beach breathing but in a critical condition. She was taken to St Vincent's Hospital and placed in an induced coma. Stewart later underwent several operations, including the amputation of one arm.

Randwick City Council temporarily closed beaches across Sydney's eastern suburbs after the attack. Beaches reopened on 15 June, with roving jet-ski patrols and shark-spotting drones then operating in the Coogee area.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns later announced an extra A$34 million for drone coverage across the state's beaches. The announcement followed Stewart's attack and other serious shark incidents in Sydney this year.

Stewart's latest update shifts the family's focus away from public fundraising. She said the donations already received would allow them to concentrate on recovery.