Swimmer in Suspected Shark Attack Was a Triathlete, Swam at Same Beach for 20 Years

"Pebble Beach resident Erica Fox swam every Sunday at Lovers Point in Monterey County's Pacific Grove where she disappeared Sunday for about 20 years with the weekly open water swim group she co-founded called Kelp Krawlers. On Sunday, Fox reportedly took a wider route than the rest of the group members, who swam west into Otter Cove, per Monterey County Now."

"As SFist previously reported, members of the group heard a large splash and rushed to shore, but Fox never returned. Authorities said two eye witness accounts indicated potential shark activity in the area. Multiple agencies were involved in the search, which covered over 84 square nautical miles before it was suspended Monday afternoon, per the Chronicle. Fox was a two-time Half Ironman winner who participated in the annual Escape From Alcatraz triathlon for 20 years."

"Per the Chronicle, fellow open swimmer Sara Rubin wrote on Monterey County Now, where she's the editor, that Fox was a bright light who was quick to laugh and seemed to be always smiling. Multiple books have been written about the science of swimming and what it does for our brains, she wrote. But Erica never needed a book to tell her what she knew through experience: Swimming in the ocean is a balm for body and mind, an adventure as much as a meditation."

Erica Fox, a 55-year-old Pebble Beach resident and co-founder of the Kelp Krawlers open-water swim group, disappeared during a Sunday swim at Lovers Point after taking a wider route toward Otter Cove. Group members heard a large splash and rushed to shore, but Fox never returned. Two eyewitness accounts suggested potential shark activity in the area. Multiple agencies conducted a search covering over 84 square nautical miles before suspending operations Monday afternoon. Fox was a two-time Half Ironman winner and a long-time Escape From Alcatraz participant who swam at Lovers Point weekly for about 20 years. Lovers Point is a popular local destination where precautions should be taken.

Read at sfist.com