The 34-year-old mother-of-one was attacked by a four-metre great white shark while swimming between the flags at Coogee Beach in Sydney in June.<\/p>\n
Stewart narrowly escaped with her life but suffered catastrophic injuries that ultimately resulted in the amputation of her left arm.<\/p>\n
After bravely sharing the details of her ordeal in an emotional 60 Minutes interview last week, Stewart became the subject of a controversial discussion on Melbourne breakfast radio show Fox 101.9 FM.<\/a><\/p>\n Hosts Brendan Fevola, Kate Langbroek and Nick Cody cast doubt on parts of the young mum’s account, with Fevola accusing her of “lying” and claiming she had put “a lot of mayo” on her remarkable survival story.<\/p>\n Now, Stewart has responded to the controversy for the first time, revealing she has chosen not to listen to the segment and instead focus her energy on her recovery and family.<\/p>\n “I have been so busy with my rehabilitation and embracing being home with my family that I haven\u2019t had a chance to listen to the segment,” Stewart told nine.com.au.<\/p>\n “I have picked up the general sentiment from a few headlines, but the truth is I haven’t given it much thought.”<\/p>\n Rather than directly hit back at the radio hosts, Stewart pointed to the people who witnessed the terrifying ordeal and those who helped save her life.<\/p>\n Stewart continued: “What I do know is that everyone who was on that beach with me, my incredible medical team at St Vincent’s, and every first responder who helped save my life that day, they know what happened. And so do I.<\/p>\n “I am genuinely blown away by the support from Australians, and the wider community.<\/p>\n “It has meant so much to me and my family. I have chosen to put my energy where it belongs, into my recovery, into [daughter] August, and into being grateful for the second chance at life I have been given.<\/p>\n “The love and support from this country has far outweighed anything else. I am just so grateful.”<\/p>\n Stewart’s measured response comes after the Fox FM trio faced a wave of backlash over their discussion of her interview on Tuesday.<\/p>\n During the segment, Fevola questioned Stewart\u2019s revelation that she deliberately punched the shark with her left arm because it was the limb she was more “willing to lose”.<\/p>\n “I was on the couch with my wife going, ‘She’s lying! Too much time to think!\u2019 You’re not thinking all that are you?” Fevola said.<\/p>\n “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,” he added.<\/p>\n “That’s a lot of mayo.”<\/p>\n The comments sparked an immediate backlash online, with listeners accusing the hosts of being unnecessarily harsh towards a woman who had survived a horrific attack.<\/p>\n “Bit harsh Fev, she knew the shark was there for over a minute before it attacked her, I don’t think Fev listened to the whole story,” wrote one listener on the show’s Facebook page.<\/p>\n “Wow, sounds like Fev is a bit jealous of the attention this incredibly brave woman has been receiving,” added another listener.<\/p>\n Elsewhere online, more pointed criticism rolled in for the hosts.<\/p>\n “Bullying a survivor of a shark attack? Yeah – sounds about the level of classy behaviour we expect from radio hosts,” wrote one enraged online user.<\/p>\n