South African swimmer killed by shark

Key Points:

• Janine Lochrenberg, a 65-year-old South African woman, was fatally attacked by a shark while swimming off KuGompo City (formerly East London) on Tuesday morning, marking the first recorded shark attack fatality in South Africa this year.
• Witnesses reported that Lochrenberg was bitten on her thigh and upper arm and likely died before being brought to shore by fellow swimmers from her local open water swimming club.
• Despite wearing a magnetic shark repellent band, Lochrenberg, an experienced and brave swimmer, was unable to avoid the attack; shark incidents are rare in South Africa, with about 10 fatal attacks recorded since 2012.
• Her sister and partner described her as a remarkable, intelligent, and kind person with a deep love for the water, who had accepted the risks of swimming in areas with known shark presence.
• Lochrenberg was a retired medical physicist, and she and her partner were planning a three-week road trip before the fatal incident.