Coroner Confirms Pacific Grove Swimmer Died From Shark Attack

"The Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Corner's Office has determined the cause of death to be sharp and blunt force injuries and submersion in water due to a shark attack,"

"The manner of death has been ruled an accident."

"She didn't want to live in fear. She lived her life fully."

"There's some account that she may have actually separated from the group because she's a different, more proficient swimmer that might have isolated her and this shark, you know, we think these are mistakes,"

Erica Fox, a 55-year-old Pebble Beach resident and avid ocean swimmer, went missing during a December 21 group swim near Pacific Grove and was later found on a beach north of Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner determined the cause of death as sharp and blunt force injuries and submersion in water due to a shark attack and ruled the manner accidental. Fox still had a shark-deterrent band on one ankle. Her husband said she died doing what she loved and did not want to live in fear. A shark biologist suggested the shark may have mistaken her for a seal and noted deterrent devices are not fully effective. Fox was the second member of her swim club to be attacked in three years.

Read at sfist.com