Body of Monterey Swimmer Recovered After Suspected Great White Shark Attack Near Pacific Grove, California

Pacific Grove, California - December 29, 2025--The body of 55-year-old Erica Fox, a dedicated triathlete and co-founder of the popular open-water swimming group Kelp Krawlers, was recovered over the weekend, bringing a tragic close to a week-long search following a suspected shark attack in Monterey Bay.Fox disappeared on Sunday, December 21, while swimming with about 17 fellow Kelp Krawlers members off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, a scenic spot known for its rocky coves and kelp .

Witnesses reported seeing a large splash around noon, followed by a great white shark breaching the surface with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth before submerging. The group quickly returned to shore, but Fox-swimming ahead as she often did-was missing.

An intensive multi-agency search involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Pacific Grove Police, Monterey Fire Department, and divers covered more than 84 square nautical miles but was suspended after 15 hours on December 22 with no sign of Fox. Nearby beaches were closed as a precaution.On Saturday, December 27, CAL FIRE crews recovered a woman's body from a remote beach south of Davenport in Santa Cruz County, approximately 30-45 miles north of the attack site.

Family members, including Fox's father James Fox and husband Jean-Francois Vanreusel, identified her by her black-and-blue wetsuit, distinctive white Garmin watch, and electromagnetic shark deterrent anklet she wore on her ankle.The Santa Cruz County Coroner's Office is handling the official identification and cause of death, but authorities are treating the incident as a fatal shark attack.

The day after the recovery, on December 28, dozens of Kelp Krawlers members, friends, and family gathered at Lovers Point for an emotional memorial. They walked a mile-long procession along the bluffs, mirroring Fox's final swim route, and shared stories of her passion for the ocean.santamariatimes.com

Fox, a Pebble Beach resident who worked at a local market, had swum at Lovers Point nearly every Sunday for two decades. She co-founded the Kelp Krawlers 20 years ago and was known as a "bright light" in the community-competitive yet caring, with a deep love for open-water swimming. She completed multiple triathlons, including two half-Ironmans and the iconic Escape from Alcatraz race annually for years.openwaterswimming.com

The attack occurred in California's "Red Triangle," a region stretching from Bodega Bay to Big Sur renowned for high great white shark activity due to abundant seal and sea lion populations. Experts note December is peak feeding season for juvenile and adult whites in Monterey Bay, with tagged sharks detected near Lovers Point in the days surrounding the incident.This marks the first fatal shark attack at Lovers Point in over 70 years and one of only a handful in California in recent decades. Shark attacks remain extremely rare, with great whites often mistaking humans for prey in mistaken-identity bites.

Pacific Grove Mayor Nick Smith expressed condolences: "On behalf of the city, I extend my deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones of Erica Fox."The community continues to mourn a woman who lived fully in the water she adored, reminding many of the ocean's beauty-and its risks.