In brief
Janine Lochrenberg, a 65‑year‑old regular of a local open‑water swim club, was bitten by a great white shark near Orient Beach in East London, South Africa. Witnesses report she sustained bites to her thigh and upper arm and died before she could reach shore. Despite wearing a magnetic shark‑repellent band, the attack proved fatal. Authorities have closed nearby beaches and mourn the loss of a beloved member of the swimming community. The incident underscores the rarity of shark fatalities in South Africa, with fewer than ten deaths recorded since 2012.
A first‑fatal shark attack in South Africa this year resulted in the death of 65‑year‑old Janine Lochrenberg, a regular at the open‑water swim club in East London.
Lochrenberg was four miles offshore near Orient Beach when a great white bit her thigh and upper arm, according to witnesses. She was moved to shore by fellow swimmers but died before help could arrive.
Despite wearing a magnetic shark‑repellent band, the attack proved fatal. Authorities have since shut down Orient Beach and a nearby stretch.
Her sister Margot described her as having a deep affinity for the water and a calm, brave spirit. Lochrenberg’s partner, retired medical physicist Barbara Briceland, remembered her as a thoughtful, life‑loving individual.
Shark incidents remain rare in South Africa, with fewer than ten fatalities recorded since 2012. The local swimming community mourns the loss and urges caution in the waters off East London.
