Woman, 65, Killed in Shark Attack During Morning Swim in South Africa

A morning swim turned tragic when a 65-year-old woman was fatally attacked by a shark off South Africa’s southeastern coast, leaving her fellow swimmers in shock and prompting authorities to close nearby beaches.

Janine Lochrenberg was swimming with a group at Orient Beach in KuGompo, formerly known as East London, on October 20, 2026, when the attack occurred.

According to reports, members of the open-water swimming group rushed to help after realizing she was seriously injured. Fellow swimmers brought her back to shore and attempted to save her, while a medic in the group also provided emergency assistance. Despite their efforts, Lochrenberg died at the scene.

Witnesses said she suffered severe injuries to her arm and thigh. Reports also indicated that she was wearing a magnetic shark deterrent when the attack happened. Authorities have not publicly identified the species of shark involved.

Following the incident, local officials closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach as a precaution and urged people to stay out of the water while safety assessments were carried out. Police have opened an inquest into her death.

Lochrenberg was remembered as a passionate ocean swimmer and musician who was deeply valued by her local community. Friends and fellow swimmers described her death as a devastating loss.

The incident has renewed concerns about ocean safety along South Africa’s coastline, although fatal shark attacks remain relatively rare. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Source: PEOPLE