It was a regular Saturday morning in Coogee when Leah Stewart — a local teacher and mum — decided to go for a swim.

She was close to the shore, swimming between the flags.

Moments later, the 35-year-old was attacked by a suspected white shark.

The shark alarm sounded and the beach was cleared as Leah's fight for her life began.

Off-duty volunteer lifeguard Charlie Verco, who was nearby on a paddleboard training for a competition, rushed to her aid and paddled her back to shore.

On the sand, surf lifesavers and bystanders applied tourniquets to stop the bleeding and performed CPR.

Leah was airlifted in a critical condition to St Vincent's Hospital, where she spent days in the ICU and underwent a series of surgeries to amputate one of her arms and address other "life-threatening" injuries.

Now, more than two months on, Leah has spoken out for the first time, saying that while she still has a long road ahead of her, she feels like she's been given a "second chance at life".

"After what has been an incredibly difficult few months, I'm so happy that I've progressed enough to build some independence, and I can finally see some light after all of this," she wrote in an update on her GoFundMe.

"I feel like I've been given a second chance at life, and I'm not going to waste it. As I get better, I know I'll make something of this second chance and aim to give back even more in generosity, care, and love. I will forever be grateful for everything, and everyone, I've been given. "You've inspired me to get better, not bitter."

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The mother-of-one said she's been doing everything in her power "to get back to some sort of normal life" and thanked those who have been cheering her on in the process.

"I still have a long way to go, but my recovery has been remarkable, and a huge part of that is because of the absolute army of love, support, prayers and encouragement surrounding my family and I from all over the world," she said.

"That means more to me than I can say, and I truly believe it's played a huge role in my recovery."

Leah Stewart pictured with her daughter. Image: GoFundMe.

Leah wakes up.

Almost two weeks after the attack, Leah's family shared a positive update — she was awake and no longer critical and finally reunited with her daughter, August.

Leah's first thoughts were with August when she briefly woke from an induced coma earlier this week. The mother wanted to know she was okay.

On June 25, she was able to see her little girl.

"Leah has been brought out from the heavy sedation and is now awake and alert and has been able to speak with our family and her medical team," her brother Joshua wrote in an update on Leah's GoFundMe page.

"It's amazing to hear from her so much sooner than anyone expected. Both Leah and August were overjoyed last night to see each other for the first time since the attack (these last weeks were the first time they had ever been apart overnight)."

Joshua said his sister "remembers the whole event in detail" and said it was August who helped her stay strong.

"Leah still has a long way to go, with an extensive recovery and rehabilitation process that will have her in and out of surgery through the coming weeks," he said.

"Leah has shown she is so strong, fighting to come back to her daughter, August."

Leah thanked the community for its support. Image: GoFundMe.

On June 23, Joshua shared that Leah had spoken for the first time since the incident, after briefly waking from an induced coma.

"After a week of life-support and repeat surgeries, doctors were able to extubate Leah and reduce her level of sedation to bring her out of the induced coma for a short period of time," he said.

Her first words: "I love you".

She uttered them to her mum and partner, Fernando, who Joshua says have been "by her side in ICU since the incident".

Joshua said the family were amazed by Leah's recovery.

"This is a lot faster than anyone expected, and for us this feels like a miracle and is everything so many of us have hoped and prayed for over the past week," he wrote.

Days earlier, he expressed the family's "sincere thanks to the lifesavers, first responders, helicopter crew and to the dedicated medical team at St Vincents who have been caring for Leah".

He also thanked those who have reached out to the family with "sympathy, care and prayer".

Since the attack, the community has come together in Leah's honour, with more than $550,000 raised on the GoFundMe for Leah and her family. Leah confirmed the family has now halted donations as the amount is enough to help her "recover, to stay in our home, and to give us options for further medical treatment down the road."

Feature image: GoFundMe.