THREE radio presenters are under fire for accusing a shark attack victim of lying about her traumatic story.
During an on-air discussion, a trio of Australian radio hosts questioned Leah Stewart’s account of the horrific shark attack she experienced on June 13.
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Leah Stewart, a 35-year-old Australian mother, discussed on 60 Minutes how she was mauled by a great white shark on June 13 while swimming at Coogee Beach, Sydney.
She spent two weeks in a coma after being pulled out of the sea in “a pool of her own blood”.
In the emotional interview, Leah described the moment she went into “survival mode” to stay alive for her one-year-old daughter August.
Face-to-face with the shark she decided to punch it with her left arm, which she was more “willing to lose” because she is right-handed.
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Melbourne FOXFM radio hosts Brendan Fevola, Nick Cody and Kate Langbroek discussed Leah’s interview on the Monday episode of the Fifi, Fev & Nick breakfast show.
Fevola cast doubt on whether Leah would have had ‘time to think’ during the attack.
Langbroek replied: “No, most people say you don’t even know what’s happening.”
Fevola added: “I was on the couch with my wife Alex going, “She’s lying! Too much time to think!’ You’re not thinking all that, are you?
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“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. That’s a lot of mayo.”
Fevola shockingly accused Leah of lying about choosing which limb she was willing to lose, given that she was right-handed.
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However, the former AFL player admitted had he been in the same position, he “would have had a heart attack and would have been eaten.”
The trio then played videos of Leah recalling the terrifying attack and questioned how she remembered so many details.
Co-host Cody jumped to Leah’s defence saying: “You hear the phrase ‘Time stands still’. Is there a chance time stood still?”
Langbroek called it unusual and joked “the only other person I know who has punched a shark is Mick Fanning.”
She said: “He said at the time he didn’t even have a chance to think about what he was doing, it was like a reflex.”
Despite admiring Leah’s bravery, Fevola claimed she had embellished the story, putting “mayo” and “GST” on top of it.
“I’m so sorry for what happened to you and you’re an amazing woman because you have fought off a shark, but you’re not thinking all that,” Fevola continued.
Kate Langbroek was standing in for regular presenter Fifi Box.
The radio exchange immediately sparked outrage with listeners appalled by the lack of empathy and sensitivity from the hosts.
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One listener wrote: “You had every opportunity to comment on what an incredible survival story it was instead you had to dampen it. Yet again the same old rhetoric of a man questioning the credibility of a woman’s story.”
Another called for the radio station to “Fire them pronto.”
Many have defended Leah’s recollection of the attack, including Andrew Fox, the son of a shark attack victim.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said his father’s recollection of his near-death experience is “just as detailed” as Leah’s.
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Fox added: “The doubters are always jumping in with opinion but anybody that’s been through near-death experience will know an infinite number of possibilities are processed by your brain in microseconds.”
The Sun has contacted the radio station for comment.