Swimmer, 65, killed in shark attack off South Africa’s east coast

Fatal attack during morning swim

A 65-year-old woman died after being bitten by a shark while swimming off South Africa’s east coast on Tuesday morning. Janine Lochrenberg was taking part in a daily swim with a local open water club near KuGompo City, formerly East London, when the attack happened around 08:00 local time. Witnesses said she was bitten on the thigh and upper arm. Fellow swimmers brought her to shore, but she is believed to have died before leaving the water. Her sister Margot held her head during the rescue and said Lochrenberg “loved the water so much.” Margot added that her sister knew of an “elevated shark presence in East London” but had made peace with it, saying, “She’d made peace with that. She had a deep affinity with the water and was a remarkable person.”

Lochrenberg was wearing a magnetic shark repellent band on her ankle at the time. Her partner, Barbara Briceland, described her as a retired medical physicist and a strong swimmer who often went far out into the breakers. “She was highly intelligent, lots of fun, kind, in a quietish way, thoughtful, well-loved with a love of life,” Briceland said. The couple were about to leave on a three-week road trip.

Authorities closed Orient Beach and another nearby beach following the incident. According to the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File, there have been about 10 fatal shark attacks in South Africa since 2012. This is the first recorded fatal shark attack in the country this year.