65-year old swimmer killed in shark attack off South African coast; 2 beaches shut

A 65-year-old woman died after being attacked by a shark while swimming off the coast of South Africa's Eastern Cape province on Tuesday. The incident occurred at Orient Beach in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London. Authorities have since closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice. The woman, identified as Janine Lochrenberg, was a retired nuclear radiographer and musician associated with the East London Open Water Swimmers Association. According to local reports, Lochrenberg signaled that she was in distress during a morning swim, prompting fellow swimmers to assist her. Mike Louw, a fellow swimmer and journalist with the Daily Dispatch, stated that members of the group rushed to her aid after realizing she required help. She was brought ashore with assistance from other swimmers, including her son, but suffered fatal injuries. Local reports indicated she sustained severe injuries to her right arm and thigh. The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality confirmed the shark attack in a public notice and announced the closure of Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice. It also urged beachgoers at other locations to remain vigilant and follow safety instructions. Police have opened an inquest into the incident, according to South African media reports. The attack adds to a small number of fatal shark encounters reported globally each year. According to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File, there were 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025, including nine fatalities, compared with 47 bites in 2024. South Africa recorded one unprovoked shark attack in 2025, which was fatal. The United States reported 25 unprovoked attacks, including one death, while Australia recorded 21 attacks and five fatalities. South Africa has also recorded fatal attacks in previous years. In 2022, two people died in shark attacks in the country, including a 39-year-old woman who was on holiday with her husband and young child. Researchers suggest that shark encounters can be influenced by several factors, including human activity in coastal waters, environmental changes, and shifts in the distribution of sharks and their prey. A witness told local news that the woman appeared to be in trouble before others realized she had been bitten. She suffered serious injuries to her thigh and upper arm and was pulled ashore, where she was pronounced dead. Police have opened an inquest into her death. The species of shark responsible for the attack has not yet been identified. Local authorities have closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice, warning residents and tourists to stay out of the water. South Africa's coastline is home to several shark species, including great white sharks, which attract tourists for shark-watching and cage-diving activities. A witness described the bites she suffered as "very severe." The woman was swimming with a group near Orient Beach in KuGompo City when she signaled that she was in trouble shortly after 8 am local time on Tuesday. The witness said the woman was brought back to shore, where she was pronounced dead. The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality said there had been a shark attack that resulted in a "tragic incident." There were 65 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide in 2025, up from 47 in 2024, according to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File. Twelve of the attacks resulted in fatalities, including South Africa's only recorded incident, the report said. Five of the fatal attacks took place in Australia, where 21 unprovoked shark attacks were recorded. Surfers and people taking part in other board sports accounted for 32 percent of unprovoked shark bites. Swimmers and waders accounted for 46 percent, while snorkellers and free divers made up 15 percent. A woman died after a shark attacked her while she was swimming at Orient Beach in KuGompo on Tuesday morning. The woman was with a group of other swimmers when the attack happened. The incident has prompted the Buffalo City municipality to close the beach, as well as nearby Eastern Beach. More information will be released as it becomes available.