Shark Kills Swimmer in South Africa Despite Repellent Device

A 65-year-old swimmer was fatally attacked by a shark off the coast of South Africa on Tuesday, an incident that occurred despite the victim wearing a device designed to repel sharks. The attack took place around 8 a.m. at Orient Beach in KuGomo City.

Witnesses reported that the swimmer, identified as Janine Lochrenberg, suffered bites to her thigh and upper arm. She succumbed to her injuries in the water before fellow swimmers could bring her back to shore. According to reports, Lochrenberg was wearing a magnetic repellent band on her ankle, a device intended to ward off sharks by disrupting their electroreception.

Lochrenberg’s sister, Margot, recounted holding her sister's head as she was pulled from the water and stated her belief that Lochrenberg bled out before reaching shore. Margot described her sister as someone who "loved the water so much" and was aware of the increased shark presence in the area, adding that Lochrenberg had "made peace with that."

Lochrenberg’s partner, Barbara Briceland, remembered her as brave and an experienced swimmer. Briceland described Lochrenberg as highly intelligent, kind, thoughtful, and well-loved, with a deep love for life. The couple had been anticipating retirement and a planned road trip together.

This incident marks the first recorded shark attack in South Africa this year. Janine Lochrenberg was a retired medical physicist.