Authorities verify shark killed swimmer Erica Fox at Lovers Point

Authorities confirmed Thursday that Erica Fox, 55, a swimmer who was discovered lifeless final month after a swim in Monterey County, was killed by a shark.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner recognized Fox because the sufferer discovered floating near Davenport per week after she went lacking on Dec. 27, 2025, about 25 miles north of Lovers Point in Pacific Grove. Although a number of witnesses reported seeing a shark close to the place Fox disappeared, the coroner didn’t formally verify a shark chunk till Thursday.

The assault marks the primary deadly shark incident at Lovers Point in additional than 70 years.

“The Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office has determined the cause of death to be sharp and blunt force injuries and submersion in water due to a shark attack,” the workplace mentioned in an announcement Thursday. “The manner of death has been ruled an accident.”

Fox was reported lacking Dec. 21, 2025, after she didn’t return to shore together with her swim group, the Kelp Krawlers. Witnesses that morning reported seeing a shark breach simply offshore at Lovers Point, the place Fox had been main a bunch of a few dozen swimmers.

According to her husband, Jean-Francois Vanreusel, Fox was recognized by her white Garmin watch and an electromagnetic shark deterrent nonetheless connected to her ankle.

“The Sheriff’s Office once again extends its deepest condolences to Erica Fox’s family and friends during this difficult time,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.

The seek for Fox concerned a number of companies, together with the U.S. Coast Guard, Pacific Grove Police, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office divers, and Monterey firefighters, who carried out roughly 15 hours of air and water operations earlier than the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office took over when the physique was discovered per week later.

Fox, 55, co-founded the Kelp Krawlers 20 years in the past to coach within the open waters off Pacific Grove, changing into a central determine within the tight-knit swimming group. A seasoned triathlete, she labored at Elroy’s Fine Foods market in Monterey.

Her father, Jim Fox, mentioned she ran her first 10K race at age 7. Her dwelling was stuffed with triathlon medals, together with awards from the famed Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco.

Shark attacks on humans are rare worldwide, together with alongside California’s coast.

Since 1950, sharks have killed 16 individuals in California, in keeping with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. All concerned nice white sharks besides one October 2023 case at Point Reyes National Seashore, the place the species was unconfirmed.

In the Monterey space, 13 individuals have been bitten by nice white sharks since 1950, leading to two deaths, 9 main accidents, and two minor accidents. Most victims have been divers or surfers – solely two have been swimmers.

Fox’s loss of life is the third shark-related incident at Lovers Point since June 2022 and the primary recorded loss of life since 1952.

In 2022, one other Kelp Krawler, Steve Bruemmer, was severely injured whereas swimming, and two months later, a paddleboarder and his canine have been thrown from their board however unhurt after a shark bit it from under.

Experts say there isn’t any clear sample behind latest shark encounters, emphasizing that the ocean is a dynamic setting the place people enter the pure habitat of marine predators.

“When we enter the sea here, we are entering a marine wilderness,” Barbara Block, a Stanford University marine sciences professor based mostly at Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, mentioned shortly after Fox’s disappearance was reported. “It’s similar to walking into Yellowstone Park — but instead of wolves or grizzlies, we have white sharks.”

One prevailing principle is that sharks mistake people for prey, whereas one other is that they use their mouths to analyze unfamiliar objects as potential prey.

Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, mentioned the rocky shoreline close to Lovers Point attracts sea lions, and seals additionally frequent offshore waters — each main prey for excellent white sharks.

“We’re clearly not on the menu,” Lowe beforehand mentioned. “Otherwise people would be bitten and eaten all the time.”

In latest years, swimmers, divers, and surfers, together with Fox’s swim membership, have turned to electromagnetic units or different shark deterrents. While opinions on their effectiveness are blended, consultants stress there aren’t any ensures within the open ocean.

Even earlier than the reason for Fox’s loss of life was confirmed, the swim membership started reassessing their custom of swimming at Lovers Point.

“I’m going to say it’s time,” Bruemmer instructed this information group final month. “Erica was the founder of the Kelp Krawlers, and this should be the last swim at Lovers Point.”

With reporting from employees writers Ethan Baron and Julia Prodis Sulek