Pacific Grove, California – A Shark Breach with a Swimmer in Its Mouth Claims Life of Cold-Water Swimmer
A chilling and tragic scene unfolded on December 21 at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove when a witness saw a shark breach the surface of the water with a person in its mouth. What had started as a routine Sunday swim for the Kelp Krawlers, a local cold-water swimming group, quickly turned into a nightmare. Erica Fox, a 55-year-old co-founder of the group, was out swimming with about 15 others when the incident occurred around noon. A massive splash in the water alerted the group, and one of the swimmers saw a shark surface briefly before disappearing into the deep with what appeared to be a person. The group made it back to the beach safely, but Erica was nowhere to be found.
The disappearance of Erica Fox sparked an urgent and extensive search across Monterey Bay. The Coast Guard, along with local authorities, deployed boats, helicopters, and drones to comb over 80 square miles of water in a race against time. Despite the search efforts, the rough conditions of the Pacific waters forced officials to suspend the operation by Monday night. Erica, an experienced triathlete who had completed Half Ironman competitions, seemed to be well-prepared for cold-water swimming, but nothing could prepare her for the rare and deadly shark encounter. As days passed and hope faded, the search for Erica became more difficult, with harsh weather conditions making it nearly impossible to continue the rescue operation.
The search ended in heartbreak when Erica’s body was discovered on Saturday afternoon, nearly 45 miles north of the incident site, at a remote pocket beach near Wilder Ranch State Park. Firefighters rappelled down a steep cliff using ropes to retrieve the body. Erica’s father, James Fox, confirmed the identity of the body based on the distinctive clothing Erica had worn that day. The Santa Cruz County Coroner’s Office is still investigating the cause of death, and the circumstances surrounding the shark encounter remain under investigation. Authorities are working to determine if this tragic event was a rare fatal shark attack. As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with the loss of a beloved swimmer, and the questions surrounding the incident linger in the minds of those who knew Erica. Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and the Kelp Krawlers group, who now face the sorrow of losing one of their own in such a tragic and unexpected way.