Radio trio come under fire for accusing shark attack survivor of ‘lying’

Breakfast radio hosts Brendan Fevola, Nick Cody and Kate Langbroek have come under fire for casting doubt on the story of shark attack survivor Leah Stewart.

Stewart, a 35-year-old mother, lost part of her left arm when she was mauled by a great white shark while swimming between the flags at Sydney’s Coogee Beach on June 13. She recounted her vivid memories of the harrowing event on 60 Minutes, on Sunday night.

Stewart described the moment she went into survival mode to save her life for her one-year-old daughter August on 60 Minutes, a program produced by Nine Entertainment, which also publishes nine.com.au.

“I’ll never forget its face. It was huge and its teeth and its mouth was massive and its eyes, it’s just black little beady eyes, we were just looking face to face,” Stewart said.

Fevola, Cody and Langbroek – who was filling in for regular presenter Fifi Box – discussed Stewart’s interview on the Monday episode of the Fifi, Fev & Nick breakfast show.

Nine.com.au has contacted representatives of the Fifi, Fev and Nick show for comment on this story but have yet to receive a response.

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‘You ugly f---er’: Leah Stewart’s incredible survival as four-metre shark attacked on Coogee Beach

“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.

Langbroek cut in: “No, most people say you don’t even know what’s happening.”

They played clips of Stewart recalling the terrifying event of coming face-to-face with the shark that she lost part of her arm to, and then questioned how she could recall the details.

Fevola even went as far as to accuse Stewart of lying about choosing which limb she was willing to lose considering she was right-handed.

“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?” Fevola said.

Langbroek and Fevola admitted they would have no way of knowing as they had never been in the situation themselves, but questioned how Stewart could think clearly at that moment.

Co-host Cody chimed in arguing in defence of Stewart, “You hear the phrase ‘Time stands still’. Is there a chance time stood still?”

“Mercifully, we don’t know but it does seem unusual. The only other person I know who has punched a shark is Mick Fanning,” Langbroek added.

“He said at the time he didn’t even have a chance to think about what he was doing, it was like a reflex.”

Even with all his admiration for Stewart, Fevola was seemingly still unconvinced by the level of detail in her recount of the attack.

He claimed Stewart had embellished the story, saying she put “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.

In the days since, listeners have slammed the radio trio for their discussion around Stewart’s shark attack.

“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,” one said.

Another wrote: “’What a sad world we now live in. Why would Fev, or anyone else for that matter, question this incredible woman that escaped a certain death, thanks to a team of incredibly selfless, skilled strangers. I was in awe of her bravery, courage and determination.”

A third called for them to be taken off-air, saying “Fire them pronto”.