A body believed to be that of a 55-year-old triathlete, Erica Fox, was discovered on a remote beach after reports of a shark sighting with a body in its mouth. Fox went missing from Pacific Grove, near Monterey, California, last week while swimming with a group called the Kelp Krawlers at Lovers Point Beach.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud splash before Fox disappeared. The US Coast Guard confirmed that a witness observed a shark with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office received two shark sighting reports around the time of Fox’s disappearance.
One report described seeing a shark carrying a body, according to Petty Officer Christopher Sappey. Following the incident, Fox’s swimming group noticed she was missing when they returned to shore.
Authorities found Fox’s body over a mile away from where she was last seen swimming at a secluded beach in Wilder Ranch. Her husband, Jean-Francis Vanreusel, organized a memorial procession with their swimming group to honor her memory.
Vanreusel paid tribute to his late wife, highlighting her fearless approach to life. Fox’s loved ones described her as a compassionate person who cherished her connection to the ocean.