Coogee shark attack survivor Leah Stewart has revealed her latest skin graft has failed, three and a half months after she was seriously injured in the attack.
The 34-year-old mother lost part of her left arm after being attacked by a shark, while between the flags at Coogee Beach on June 13.
Stewart shared the update on Instagram after having the graft checked.
“Unfortunately this is not the post I was wanting to do but I had my graft checked yesterday and it was confirmed that it failed,” Stewart said.
“So, I am feeling pretty devastated had quite a few tears and now we’re not really sure where to go from here.”
Stewart said the wound on her leg remained open three and a half months after the attack.
“I guess the only good thing is we’re trying something different, so I’m having a little break from the vac machine which means I can move a little bit more freely.”
The vacuum-assisted closure, or VAC, machine uses suction to help hold a skin graft in place which draws the wound together and removes fluid while it heals.
Stewart also showed her leg to followers for the first time, explaining where surgeons had taken skin for the graft.
“I guess a lot of you wouldn’t know what a skin graft looks like so I’ll actually show you,” she said.
“I haven’t shown my legs yet so I’m a little nervous about this.
“Here is where they took the skin from my right leg,” she said while pointing to the top of her thigh.
“It’s still pretty raw but thankfully it’s healing. And they put it on my left leg but unfortunately it didn’t work.
“Anyway we keep moving forward.”
It is Stewart’s second attempt at a skin graft.
She spent 10 days in an induced coma after the attack and underwent multiple surgeries in hospital before her left arm was amputated below the elbow.
Earlier this month, Stewart spoke about the attack on 60 Minutes, describing the moment she came face-to-face with the shark before it severed her arm, recalling how at the time her first thought was “you are not taking me away from my daughter”.
Several people helped save her life, including a world champion paddle boarder who brought her to shore, a trauma specialist who was nearby and lifesavers and police officers who were on patrol.
Image: Instagram
