Shark attack survivor Leah Stewart says second skin graft on leg has failed

Leah Stewart, who lost her left arm below the elbow in a June 13 shark attack at Coogee Beach, revealed that a second skin graft on her left leg has not taken. In an Instagram video she showed the raw wound and explained that tissue taken from her right thigh was applied but failed to heal, prompting doctors to declare the procedure unsuccessful. The graft was part of ongoing efforts to close the open leg wound, which remains exposed three and a half months after the attack.

Stewart said she is removing the vacuum dressing that held the graft in place, giving her more mobility but leaving her unsure of future treatment options. She described feeling devastated and tearful, yet affirmed her determination to keep moving forward. The survivor had previously recounted the attack, describing a face-to-face encounter with a 4-metre great white, and credited quick assistance from strangers, surf lifesavers, police and medical staff for saving her life.