A 65-year-old woman has died after being attacked by a shark while swimming at Orient Beach in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, according to local authorities, who confirmed the fatal attack to Reuters.
A spokesperson for the local municipality described the incident as a fatal shark attack that resulted in the death of a swimmer.
A witness told South Africa’s public broadcaster, SABC, that the woman was swimming with a group when she indicated that she was in trouble.
The witness said other swimmers realised she had been bitten by a shark and that her injuries were severe.
He added that the woman was brought back to shore but was pronounced dead on the beach.
Police open inquest into shark attack
Eastern Cape police said officers who responded to the incident found the woman’s body with open wounds and subsequently opened an inquest into her death.
Authorities had yet to identify the species of shark involved in the attack as of Tuesday.
Following the incident, the Buffalo City municipality ordered the closure of Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice.
The municipality also urged residents and visitors to exercise caution around the affected coastal areas.
South Africa’s coastline is home to several shark species, including great white sharks, which attract tourists interested in cage diving and shark-watching activities.
The latest incident has raised fresh concerns about swimmer safety at the country’s beaches.
