A 65-year-old woman has died after being attacked by a shark while swimming at Orient Beach in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London, in the Eastern Cape.
The fatal incident happened on Tuesday morning, 20 October, leaving members of the local open-water swimming community devastated and prompting authorities to close two popular beaches
The woman was identified in media reports as Janine Lochrenberg, a recently retired nuclear radiographer and musician who was a regular member of East London’s open-water swimming community.
How the attack unfolded
Police were called to Orient Beach at about 7am, where officers found the woman’s body with open wounds.
Lochrenberg had been swimming with a group when she reportedly signalled that she was in distress. Fellow swimmers rushed to help her and brought her towards the shore after discovering she had suffered severe bite wounds to her thigh and upper arm.
Despite attempts to save her, including efforts by a medic who was part of the swimming group, she was declared dead at the scene.
Fellow swimmer Mike Loewe described the attack as a devastating loss for the close-knit swimming community.
“We all realised she’d been bitten by a shark, and she was in a very bad way,” he said, describing the severity of her injuries.
Loewe also remembered Lochrenberg as a courageous swimmer who loved being in the ocean.
Orient and Eastern beaches closed
Following the tragedy, the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice.
Municipal spokesperson Luzuko Buku confirmed the fatal attack, saying: “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.”
Authorities have urged residents and visitors to stay out of the water at the affected beaches and follow safety warnings. The beaches will only reopen after safety assessments and advice from the relevant experts.
Police open an inquest
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed that an inquest had been opened at KuGompo police station to investigate the circumstances surrounding Lochrenberg’s death.
The shark species responsible for the attack had not been identified in initial reports.
According to municipal records, the city’s previous fatal shark attack was recorded in 1997, while the most recent reported shark attack before this incident occurred in 2023.
A devastating loss for the swimming community
Lochrenberg was remembered as a passionate ocean swimmer and a musician whose death has left fellow swimmers mourning a valued member of their community.
The tragedy has also renewed concerns about ocean safety, with authorities urging beachgoers to heed warnings and follow safety instructions when entering the water.
The investigation into the circumstances of her death is ongoing.
