Home · World · Oct 20 archive
South African Woman Killed in Rare Shark Attack
· Confirmed
In Short: A 65-year-old woman, identified as Janine Lochrenberg, was killed in a shark attack off the coast of KuGompo City, formerly known as East London, South Africa, on Tuesday morning.
According to the BBC, Lochrenberg was swimming off a beach in KuGompo City when she was attacked, suffering bites to her thigh and upper arm.
Fellow swimmers brought her to shore but it was believed she died before they could get her out of the water.
Lochrenberg, a retired medical physicist and nuclear radiographer, was described by her partner Barbara Briceland as a good swimmer who often ventured far into the breakers.
She was reportedly wearing a magnetic shark repellent band at the time of the attack.
The incident occurred around 7:00 am local time, and police were called to the scene where they found the body of the woman with 'open wounds'.
The local municipality confirmed the attack, stating, 'It has been confirmed that a shark attack occurred at Orient Beach this morning, and this resulted in a tragic incident.'
Mike Loewe, a fellow swimmer, told South African state broadcaster SABC that Lochrenberg was a regular swimmer who preferred swimming alone.
The International Shark Attack File maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History reports that South Africa has recorded 29 unprovoked shark bites between 2012 and 2021, an average of about three a year.
CBS News reported that there were 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025, up from 47 the previous year, including nine fatalities.
The attack prompted the closure of two beaches until further notice.
Lochrenberg's sister told the BBC that despite knowing there was an 'elevated shark presence in East London,' her sister had 'loved the water so much.'
Her partner described her as 'highly intelligent, lots of fun, kind, in a quietish way, thoughtful, well-loved with a love of life.'
Background
A 65-year-old woman, identified as Janine Lochrenberg, was killed in a shark attack off the coast of KuGompo City, formerly known as East London, South Africa, on Tuesday morning.
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. The country consists of nine provinces, and is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini.
What's confirmed
- Members of an open-water swimming group responded after the woman signalled that she was in distress and brought her ashore, fellow swimmer Mike Loewe told South African state broadcaster SABC.
- According to the International Shark Attack File maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History, South Africa recorded 29 unprovoked shark bites between 2012 and 2021, an average of about three a year.
- Describing the woman as a regular swimmer, Loewe said she preferred swimming alone and was also a recently retired nuclear radiographer and musician.
- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality spokesperson Luzuko Buku confirmed the fatal attack in a statement, expressing sadness over the death of the swimmer.
- Johannesburg: A 65-year-old woman was killed in a shark attack off South Africa's south-eastern coast on Tuesday, prompting authorities to close two beaches until further notice.
- South Africa is known for its great white sharks and shark tourism, but attacks on humans are uncommon.
- Police were called to Orient Beach in KuGompo, formerly known as East London, at around 7 am, where the woman's body was found, Eastern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa told The Associated Press.
What's still developing
- "severe injuries to the right side of her arm and leg."
- The incident comes about one month after a man was killed by a shark in front of beachgoers as he swam off a Western Australian city shore.
- A local community group said other swimmers had spotted a shark's tail and fin.
- Fatal shark attacks are uncommon worldwide but South Africa has a history of deadly encounters along its long coastline.
- JOHANNEBURG -- A 65-year-old woman was killed on Tuesday in a shark attack off South Africa ’s southeastern coast, police and municipal authorities said, prompting the closure of two beaches.
- Six were fatal. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events A 65-year-old woman was killed on Tuesday in a shark attack off South Africa ’s southeastern coast, police and municipal authorities said, prompting the closure of two beaches.
- “She was courageous.” He described the victim as a recently retired nuclear radiographer and a musician, and said her death had devastated the swimming community.
- “The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality is deeply saddened to confirm that a fatal shark attack occurred at the Orient Beach this morning, resulting in the tragic loss of a swimmer,” municipal spokesman Luzuko Buku said in a statement.
- "She'd made peace with that. She had a deep affinity with the water and was a remarkable person," she said.