Fatal Shark Attack Closes South African Beaches

A 65-year-old woman was killed in a shark attack while swimming at Orient Beach in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London, on South Africa’s southeastern coast. Police said they were called to the beach at about 7 a.m. local time on Tuesday and found the woman’s body with open wounds. Local reports said she was a regular swimmer who had been with a group when the attack happened. A community group reported that swimmers saw a shark’s tail and fin and that the woman suffered severe injuries to her right arm and leg. Afterward, the municipality closed nearby beaches and advised the public to stay out of the water. The city confirmed the attack and described it as a tragic incident. The article notes that fatal shark attacks are uncommon worldwide, but South Africa has experienced deadly encounters along its extensive coastline. The incident followed a fatal shark attack about a month earlier off a Western Australian city. Figures from the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File show 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025, compared with 47 the year before; nine attacks in 2025 were fatal. South Africa recorded one unprovoked attack last year, which was fatal. The article compares this with 25 unprovoked attacks in the United States, including one fatality, and 21 in Australia, including five fatalities. It also recalls two fatal South African attacks in 2022, one involving a 39-year-old woman vacationing with her husband and young child. Researchers say encounters may be affected by coastal population growth, greater use of marine waters, environmental changes, and changes in the distribution of sharks and their prey.

A 65-year-old woman died after a shark attack at Orient Beach in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province on Oct 20, according to local authorities. The woman had been swimming with a group when she indicated that she was in trouble, a witness told South African public broadcaster SABC. The witness said the group realised she had been bitten and described her injuries as severe, with bites to her thigh and upper arm. She was brought back to shore and declared dead on the beach. Eastern Cape police said officers who attended the scene found her body with open wounds and opened an inquest. Authorities had not identified the shark species involved. Buffalo City municipality closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice and urged people to exercise caution. The report places the incident in the context of South Africa’s extensive coastal shark population. The country is especially known for great white sharks, which attract tourists for cage-diving and shark-watching excursions. The article does not establish whether a great white was involved in this attack. It relies on statements from a municipal spokesperson, police, and a witness, and reports the beach closures as the immediate public-safety response.

A 65-year-old open-water swimmer died following a shark attack at Orient Beach in KuGompo City, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, on Tuesday. South African media identified the victim as Janine Lochrenberg, a retired nuclear radiographer and musician who belonged to the East London Open Water Swimmers Association. During a morning swim, Lochrenberg reportedly signalled that she was in distress. Fellow swimmers, including her son, went to her aid and helped bring her ashore, but she had suffered fatal injuries. Local reports described severe injuries to her right arm and thigh. The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality confirmed the incident and closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice. It also advised people at other beaches to stay alert and obey safety instructions. Authorities responded at the scene, and police opened an inquest, according to local media. The article places the incident in the context of worldwide shark-attack figures. The University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File recorded 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025, including nine fatalities, compared with 47 bites in 2024. South Africa had one unprovoked attack in 2025, which was fatal; the United States recorded 25 attacks and one death, while Australia had 21 attacks and five fatalities. The article also notes that two people died in shark attacks in South Africa in 2022, including a 39-year-old woman on holiday with her husband and young child. Researchers cited in the article say encounters between people and sharks may be shaped by human activity in coastal waters, environmental changes, and shifts in the distribution of sharks and their prey.