More Than 1,000 Join Coogee Swim-Out for Leah Stewart, 34, After Shark Attack

Q: As Australia debates shark control, are drones a real fix or a false sense of security for beachgoers?

Drones are a real safety tool, but not a guarantee, and treating them as one would create a false sense of security. The Coogee attack on Leah Stewart has sharpened that distinction. Surf Life Saving NSW now has permanent approval to use drones over Coogee, and the technology offers clear benefits: it can spot sharks from above, track movement in real time, and give lifesavers enough warning to clear the water. Trials in Queensland and NSW have shown drones can detect sharks, trigger evacuations, and improve decisions by showing size, species and distance rather than relying on uncertain sightings. They also avoid the ecological damage linked to nets and traditional drumlines, which can kill non-target species. That matters in a country where shark control is increasingly judged not just by public safety, but by environmental cost. Drones are also useful beyond sharks, helping with rip rescues and broader surf surveillance. But drones do not remove risk. They are limited by weather, glare, water clarity, battery life and pilot coverage. A shark can still be missed, and even a sighting only works if lifeguards can respond quickly and beachgoers comply. Experts say they reduce risk rather than eliminate it. That makes drones best understood as part of a layered system: patrols, rescue craft, public warnings, trauma support, education and, in some areas, other shark-management tools. For beachgoers, the practical message is simple: drones make beaches safer, not safe.

3 articles · Updated · ABC News · Jun 21

More than 1,000 people gathered at Coogee Beach for a community swim-out backing Leah Stewart and her family, marking many locals' first return to the water since the June 13 attack.
Stewart, 34, remains in critical condition after a suspected white shark mauled her while she swam between the flags; her family said she has undergone multiple surgeries and had one arm amputated.
A letter from the family called Stewart "a survivor" and thanked lifeguards, lifesavers, medical staff and beachgoers whose rapid first aid, tourniquets and CPR saved her life.
Drones, jet skis and rescue boats were deployed for the event, while trauma counsellors and Lifeline staff supported first responders and residents still shaken by the attack.
The swim-out ended with a fundraiser barbecue for the family, underscoring how Coogee's response has widened from emergency rescue to long-term community and recovery support.