A 65-year-old woman died following a rare shark attack off the coast of South Africa. She was swimming with a local group at the time of the incident.
A shark attack claimed the life of a 65-year-old woman in South Africa. The incident occurred off the east coast near KuGompo City.
Also, this tragedy marks the first fatal shark attack in the country this year. The victim, Janine Lochrenberg, was swimming on Tuesday morning.
Next, the swimmer was part of a local club. She entered the water around 8:00 a.m. for her daily exercise.
However, a shark attacked her during the swim. Witnesses stated the animal bit her on her thigh and upper arm.
Then, fellow swimmers rushed to help the woman. They brought her to the beach, but she died in the water.
Meanwhile, reports suggest she wore a magnetic shark repellent band. Her sister was present and helped bring her to the shore.
After that, her sister spoke to the media. She explained that Janine deeply loved the ocean. She knew about the shark presence but enjoyed swimming anyway.
Still, her partner described the victim as a brave and intelligent person. The couple planned a road trip for their upcoming retirement.
Furthermore, experts note that shark attacks remain rare in this region. Only about ten fatal attacks occurred since 2012.
Finally, local officials closed Orient Beach to the public. They also shut down a nearby beach to ensure safety.