Published: 10:57 BST, 1 September 2026 | Updated: 21:39 BST, 1 September 2026
A trio of radio DJs have questioned how shark attack victim Leah Stewart had 'time to think' during the horror mauling that saw her lose her left arm.
Ms Stewart, 35, sat down with 60 Minutes on Sunday to recall how the attack and her miraculous escape unfolded at Sydney's Coogee Beach on June 13.
During the televised interview, Ms Stewart described thinking about her daughter, deciding which arm to punch the shark with, and seeing the predator's 'black little beady eyes'.
Melbourne radio hosts Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola and Nick Cody, from 101.9 The Fox, on Tuesday accused Ms Stewart of putting 'a lot of mayo on' – or embellishing – the story.
'I've never been in this position and I wouldn't understand what would go on, but if a shark was attacking you, you wouldn't have much time to think,' Fevola said.
Box cut in: 'No, most people say you don't even know what's happening.'
The trio then replayed part of Ms Stewart's interview in which she recalled coming face-to-face with the shark and, in the moment before it bit her, deciding to hit it with her left arm because it was the arm she was more 'willing to lose'.
'I was on the couch with my wife going, ''She's lying! Too much time to think!'' You're not thinking all that are you?' Fevola said.
Leah Stewart (above) survived a horror shark attack at Coogee Beach on June 13 and on Sunday sat down to recall the experience
Melbourne radio hosts Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola and Nick Cody (above) accused Ms Stewart of embellishing her story by putting 'too much mayo' on details of the attack
'But it does seem unusual. The only other person I know who's punched a shark is (professional surfer) Mick Fanning.
'He said at the time he didn't even have a chance to think about what he was doing, it was like a reflex.'
But Fevola was adamant Ms Stewart was embellishing the story.
'Come on, oh right or left? Like bro, you are amazing – you punched a shark in the face and survived – but you're not thinking all that,' he said.
