Erica Fox, 55, an open ocean swimmer and co-founder of the Kelp Krawlers, was identified after her body was recovered following a fatal shark attack off the Northern California coast. She went missing on December 21st in Monterey Bay. Her death marks the second shark attack fatality at Lovers Point in 73 years and the second attack on a club member.
Erica Fox, 55, a dedicated open ocean swimmer from Pebble Beach and co-founder of the Kelp Krawlers club, has been identified as the victim of a fatal shark attack. Her body was recovered on Saturday from the ocean south of Davenport Beach in Santa Cruz County, days after she went missing on December 21st during a swim in Monterey Bay with her husband and other club members. Her husband, Jean-Francois Vanreusel, shared at a vigil that Fox 'didn’t want to live in fear' and 'lived her life fully,' noting she was still wearing her white Garmin watch and an electromagnetic 'shark band' meant to deter sharks. Fox was an accomplished triathlete, having completed two Half Ironmans. While Vanreusel did not witness the attack, two people on shore did. Experts highlight the rarity of shark attacks, yet this incident is the second shark attack fatality at Lovers Point in 73 years. The swimming club members were particularly affected, as this is the second shark attack involving a group member; Steve Bruemmer was severely injured by a great white in 2022. Following Bruemmer's attack, many swimmers, including Fox, began wearing Sharkbanz, despite skepticism about their efficacy against high-speed attacks. Bruemmer, attending Fox's vigil, offered solace by stating that shark bites are not physically painful, hoping to comfort those grieving, and reminded everyone that 'tomorrow is not guaranteed.'
