A 65-year-old woman was killed in a shark attack while swimming with a group off a popular beach in South Africa, prompting authorities to close nearby beaches and issue urgent safety warnings.
The victim, identified as Janine Lochrenberg, was attacked Tuesday morning, October 20, while swimming at Orient Beach in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London, along the country’s southeastern coast.
Lochrenberg, a recently retired nuclear radiographer and musician, was an experienced open-water swimmer who regularly enjoyed spending time in the ocean.
According to witnesses, she was swimming with members of a local group when she suddenly began calling for help.
Mike Loewe, a fellow swimmer who witnessed the incident, told South African media that he heard Lochrenberg screaming and immediately realized something was wrong.
Several swimmers rushed toward her, including her son, and worked together to bring her back to shore.
Lochrenberg had suffered serious injuries to her arm and leg during the encounter.
Despite the efforts of fellow swimmers and emergency responders, she could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said officers responded to Orient Beach around 7 a.m. after receiving reports of the attack.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Col. Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed that authorities found the woman deceased and opened an official inquest to investigate the circumstances.
The shark species involved has not yet been identified.
Witnesses reportedly spotted a shark’s fin and tail in the water around the time of the incident, although authorities have not established what caused the animal to approach the swimmers.
In another concerning detail, Loewe said Lochrenberg was wearing a magnetic shark-deterrent bracelet when the attack occurred.
The devices are marketed as a way to discourage some shark encounters, but their effectiveness varies, and they cannot guarantee protection against an attack.
Following the tragedy, the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality immediately closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach while officials assessed the safety of the surrounding waters.
Municipal spokesperson Luzuko Buku confirmed the closures and expressed condolences to Lochrenberg’s family and friends.
Officials also issued warnings at other beaches in the area, urging visitors to remain cautious, follow lifeguard instructions and avoid swimming where restrictions are in place.
The closures will remain in effect until authorities determine that conditions are safe for visitors to return.
The tragedy has deeply affected the local swimming community, where Lochrenberg was known as a dedicated and enthusiastic ocean swimmer.
Friends described her as a courageous woman who loved spending time in the water, often swimming independently even when joining organized groups.
Beyond her passion for swimming, Lochrenberg had recently retired from her career in nuclear medicine, a specialized field involving medical imaging and the use of radioactive substances in diagnosing and treating disease.
She was also an accomplished musician who enjoyed performing and participating in community activities.
Her death marks a particularly unusual tragedy for KuGompo City, where officials say the last recorded fatal shark attack occurred in 1997.
Although South Africa is home to several shark species, including great whites, fatal encounters with humans remain uncommon.
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File, South Africa recorded 29 unprovoked shark bites between 2012 and 2021, an average of fewer than three incidents per year. Six of those encounters were fatal.
Worldwide, researchers documented 65 unprovoked shark bites in 2025, including nine fatalities.
Marine researchers emphasize that sharks generally do not target humans as prey, and the overwhelming majority of people who swim in the ocean never experience a dangerous encounter.
However, conditions such as low visibility, nearby fish activity and changes in marine animal movement can sometimes increase the likelihood of sharks and swimmers encountering one another.
Beach safety experts recommend swimming in designated areas during lifeguard hours, avoiding areas where sharks have been reported and following official warnings immediately.
For now, the beaches near the site of Tuesday’s tragedy remain closed as authorities investigate the attack and assess the surrounding waters.
Meanwhile, Lochrenberg’s friends and fellow swimmers are mourning the loss of a woman whose enthusiasm for the ocean had been a defining part of her life.
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