A Sydney swimmer has defied the odds, waking from an induced coma a week after a horror shark attack that left her fighting for life. The woman, identified as 35-year-old mother of two Sarah Mitchell, opened her eyes on Sunday at Royal North Shore Hospital, with doctors describing her recovery as 'remarkable.'
Mitchell was attacked while swimming off Little Bay Beach last Monday, a stretch of coast still reeling from the first fatal shark attack in the area in nearly 60 years just weeks earlier. Witnesses saw her dragged under by what was believed to be a great white, her screams echoing off the cliffs as a fishing boat raced to her aid. She suffered deep lacerations to her leg and torso, losing a catastrophic amount of blood before paramedics stabilised her at the scene.
'She's still with us. That's more than we dared hope for,' said Dr. Emily Chen, head of the hospital's trauma unit. 'When she came in, her injuries were life-threatening. But she's strong, and she's fighting.'
The family released a statement through police, thanking the 'angel' fishermen who pulled her from the water and the 'world-class' emergency teams. 'Our Sarah is a fighter. We are overjoyed but know the road ahead is long. She faces multiple surgeries and months of rehabilitation.'
The attack reignited fierce debate over shark mitigation measures, with the state government facing calls to ramp up drone surveillance and barrier nets. But for the Mitchells, policy can wait. 'Right now, we're just grateful she's awake and can squeeze our hands,' her husband told reporters outside the hospital. 'That's all that matters.'
Surfer Jake Riley, who helped pull Mitchell onto the boat using a makeshift tourniquet, said he was 'elated' by the news. 'I've been thinking about her every night. To hear she's conscious? That's the best outcome we could have imagined.'
Doctors caution that Mitchell remains in a serious condition and will require weeks of intensive care. But as one nurse put it: 'Waking up was the biggest hurdle. She's cleared it. Now it's one step at a time.'
