Body of Missing Triathlete Found in Monterey Bay After Suspected Shark Attack

Family members have confirmed that the body recovered along the north side of Monterey Bay is that of Erica Fox, a 55-year-old triathlete who went missing earlier this month after entering the water in Pacific Grove.

According to reports from KRON and NBC Bay Area, Fox’s body was recovered from the ocean just south of Davenport Beach around 2 p.m. Saturday—roughly 30 miles north of where she was last seen at Lovers Point. The San Jose Mercury News reported that Fox was the victim of a shark attack, though officials say the investigation remains ongoing.

Fox was reported missing Sunday after witnesses told authorities they believed she may have encountered a shark while swimming near Lovers Point. In response, nearby beaches were temporarily closed as a precaution.

In a 2022 interview, Fox acknowledged the risks of open-water swimming but said she felt comfortable in the ocean, calling humans “humbled guests” in a foreign environment.

Marine experts note that the coastline near Lovers Point attracts seals and sea lions, which draw white sharks closer to shore during fall and winter months. Despite that presence, fatal shark attacks are extremely rare. Since 1950, California Department of Fish and Wildlife records show 16 shark-related deaths statewide, with only two involving swimmers in the Monterey area.

Search efforts for Fox were extensive but ultimately suspended after 15 hours.