A 65-year-old woman was killed in a shark attack while swimming at a popular beach in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province on Tuesday, prompting authorities to close two beaches as a precaution.
Officials from Buffalo City municipality confirmed that the fatal incident occurred at Orient Beach on Tuesday morning.
The woman was swimming with a group when she appeared to signal that she was in distress, according to a witness who spoke to South African public broadcaster SABC.
Other swimmers quickly realised she had been attacked by a shark and attempted to help her.
The witness said the woman had suffered two severe bite wounds, one to her thigh and another to her upper arm.
She was brought back to shore but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Eastern Cape police confirmed that officers responding to the incident found the woman’s body with open wounds. An inquest has been opened to establish the circumstances surrounding her death.
Authorities have not yet identified the species of shark responsible for the attack.
Following the incident, Buffalo City municipality ordered the closure of Orient Beach and neighbouring Eastern Beach until further notice, urging residents and visitors to exercise caution.
South Africa’s coastline is home to numerous shark species, including great white sharks, which attract tourists for cage-diving and shark-watching excursions.
The country’s coastal waters are also popular with swimmers, surfers and other recreational visitors, making shark safety an ongoing concern in some areas.
