Swimmers return to shark attack beach to support Sydney mum

A Sydney shark attack victim has been hailed "a survivor" by her family in a letter read out at a community swim event.

One week ago, Coogee Beach mother and teacher Leah Stewart was swimming between the flags when she was mauled by a suspected white shark.

Off-duty volunteer lifeguard Charlie Verco helped save her by paddling her backwards to shore, where surf life savers and the public applied tourniquets and performed CPR.

The 34-year-old remains in a critical condition and has undergone multiple surgeries since the June 13 attack for bites across her arms and legs.

She also suffered lacerations and fractures throughout her body, with her family saying one of her arms had to be amputated.

'Leah is a survivor'

At the event organised by Randwick City Council and Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, president Ben Heenan said the family wanted a letter read out before the swim took place.

"We were so fortunate for her to have received immediate first aid, from brave life savers, life guards, doctors, paramedics, nurses and members of the community here on this beach," Mr Heenan read.

"This saved her life and with this swift and skilled first response, we're forever grateful."

The family said they had been "blessed to have the expertise of specialist doctors and nurses" who continued to support her.

"Leah is a survivor. She draws her strength from the love and care she has surrounding her," Mr Heenan read.

"It'll be a long, painful, difficult road to recovery, but I know the support of her family, friends, community, will help her as she fights to come back to life."

In the letter, the family thanked the community for their support, including messages of love, prayers for healing and flowers, as well as donations of baby food, nappies and other essentials.

"It has been really special to hear from the parents of classes she taught, friends she inspired, and even those she never met who have been touched by her story and her battle to recover," Mr Heenan read.

'Coming together'

Organisers said more than a thousand people turned up for the swim-out, which provided support to the Stewart family as well as the wider community.

Surveillance drones, lifeguards on jet skis and inflatable rescue boats were provided to reassure swimmers.

Mayor of Randwick City Council Dylan Parker said the turnout sent a clear message that the community's heart went out to Ms Stewart as she recovers.

"It is a community coming together to wrap our arms around Leah, but also to come back to our special place, Coogee Beach,"

he said.

Mr Parker said he was proud to see the people come together and praised the presence of water safety personnel.

"This is the first time many people have gotten into the water since the attack last Saturday," he said.

"So many people find strength in the water, they find comfort, they find support, they find peace and to have that taken away from them has been really hard."

Mr Heenan said the event showed the "absolute power of community".

"It was pretty phenomenal to be out there with over 1,000 swimmers swimming together, bringing their feeling of warmth back to the ocean and back to each other,"

Mr Heenan said.

"Our thoughts are with Leah and her family. Her family was able to bring those thoughts down to the beach this morning before everyone got in and that was really touching."

Federal Member for Kingsford Smith, Matt Thistlethwaite, who served four years as president of Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club, thanked first responders and the public for their assistance on the day of the shark attack.

"Particularly Charlie Verco and the wonderful Ben Heenan ... who were on the scene immediately to provide Leah with first aid and ensure she still got a fighting chance of survival," he said.

"Our community has come together today to thank our surf lifesavers, our lifeguards, for their incredible efforts in doing all they can to save Leah."

He said first responders would be able to access specialist trauma support from the Black Dog Institute.

Lifeline counsellors were also present at the event to help those still feeling the impacts of the incident.

Pia Schindler and Alana Singleton from Emerge & See, a charity supporting the mental health of first responders and volunteers such as surf life savers, said the event was crucial for the community.

"Not only to support the Coogee community, but Leah and her family. [It's] really important to see people back in the water,"

Ms Singleton said.

SMART Drumlines, which were used to lure and catch sharks near beaches using bait, had been removed for the event.

The New South Wales government said it did not want to risk a member of the public being snagged on a drumline's hook.

Following the swim-out, the local surf club hosted a community barbecue, with proceeds going to the Stewart family.

In an emergency measure following the tragedy last week, Surf Life Saving NSW was granted approval to use drones to monitor shark activity over Coogee Beach.

The temporary lifting of the drone ban by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, in place due to the suburb's location under the flight path, has since been made permanent.