> At a Glance
> – A 55-year-old swimmer was found dead after a shark attack off Northern California’s coast.
> – Her body was recovered days after she vanished in Monterey Bay on Dec. 21.
> – The incident marks the second fatal shark attack at Lovers Point in 73 years.
> – Why it matters: The tragedy highlights the rare but deadly risks of open-water swimming.
A 55-year-old open-water swimmer was found dead after a shark attack off Northern California’s coast. Her body was recovered days after she vanished in Monterey Bay on Dec. 21. The incident marks the second fatal shark attack at Lovers Point in 73 years.
The Incident
Authorities recovered Erica Fox‘s body Saturday south of Davenport Beach in Santa Cruz County, the sheriff’s office said Monday. Fox had been missing since she went on a swim Dec. 21 in Monterey Bay with her husband and other members of the Kelp Krawlers, an open-water swimming club she co-founded.
Jean-François Vanreusel said:
> “She didn’t want to live in fear.”
> “She lived her life fully.”
He noted she was still wearing her white Garmin watch and a “shark band” attached to her ankle-an electromagnetic device meant to ward off sharks. Fox was a triathlete who completed two Half Ironmans and numerous other triathlons.
Steve Bruemmer told the crowd:
> “I was also bitten by a shark,”
> “and I can tell you that it doesn’t hurt. I don’t understand why, but it’s not physically painful to be badly bitten. So I believe that in her final moments, Erica was not suffering in pain. And I hope that that can be of some comfort to people.”
He paused and steadied himself on his walking sticks.
“There are also lessons, things we know that we’re reminded of in moments like this,” he said,
> “and one is that tomorrow is not guaranteed.”
| Event | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Swimmer went missing | Dec. 21 | Swam in Monterey Bay with Kelp Krawlers |
| Body recovered | Saturday | South of Davenport Beach, Santa Cruz County |
| Body identified | Monday | Erica Fox, 55 |
The first fatal shark attack at Lovers Point occurred in 1952 when a 17-year-old boy was swimming there on Dec. 7. The second fatality, Fox, underscores the rarity of such incidents-shark attacks are rarer than being struck by lightning or mauled by a bear.
Key Takeaways
- The tragedy is the second fatal shark attack at Lovers Point in 73 years.
- Erica Fox was a 55-year-old triathlete and co-founder of the Kelp Krawlers.
- Members of the club now wear electromagnetic “Sharkbanz” devices, though experts say they offer little protection against a high-speed attack.
The loss of Erica Fox reminds the Northern California community of the unpredictable dangers that can arise even for seasoned swimmers.
