A 65-year-old woman died after being attacked by a shark on the South African beach of Orient Beach, a very popular beach in KuGompo, a South African city formerly known as East London, on the south-eastern coast of the country. The tragedy occurred around eight in the morning today, Tuesday 20 October. The victim’s name was Janine Lochrenberg, she was an expert swimmer, recently retired after working as a nuclear radiology technician at Frere Hospital. She was also an avid musician and part of the local open water swimming community.
“We understood that she had been bitten, we brought her back to shore”: one of her swimming companions reconstructed the dramatic moments of the attack, who intervened to try to save her and was interviewed by South African television Sabc News. The woman loved swimming alone, although she regularly attended the group. That morning he had reached the sea together with the other enthusiasts. “She was brave. At one point she made it clear that she was in difficulty. We were all in the water and we swam towards her. Two of our friends arrived first. When we reached her we realized that she had been bitten by a shark and was in very serious condition. Her color was not good. We brought her back to shore.”
Once they reached the beach, another member of the group, with health skills, attempted to rescue the woman. However, every effort proved futile.
The anti-shark bracelet that didn’t protect her
The man said that another person on the beach had seen a large fin emerge from the water, accompanied by a sudden movement on the surface of the sea. According to his account, the wounds were concentrated on the thigh and upper part of one arm. “They were two very serious injuries. My impression is that it may have been a single bite” he specified.
Then there is a detail that makes the tragedy even more impressive: the woman was wearing a magnetic device marketed as a shark deterrent. “She had one of those shark bracelets on her wrist, with a magnetic stone or something. We don’t really believe in them, but we wear them. She had one too and it doesn’t seem to have made any difference,” the swimming buddy said. Magnetic devices are proposed as tools to disturb the sensory systems of animals, but their effectiveness is not guaranteed and they cannot be considered safe protection.
WATCH | SABC News’ Sidima Mfeku speaks to rescuer Mike Louw, who recounts the fatal shark attack on a 65-year-old swimmer and attempts to save her at Orient Beach in KuGompo City, Eastern Cape. https://t.co/i5o9nvFvl7
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 20, 2026
“The water was clear and cold, perfect for a great white shark”
The witness also described the sea conditions at the time of the attack. “The water was very clear, cool, around 16 degrees. From what I know, after a lifetime spent in contact with the ocean, it was perfect conditions for a white shark.” After the attack, the Buffalo City municipality ordered the closure of Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice. The authorities have invited residents and tourists not to enter the water and to respect the instructions of the rescuers.
PUBLIC NOTICE | BEACH CLOSURES | SAFETY WARNING Members of the public and all beachgoers are hereby advised that Orient Beach and Eastern Beach have been closed until further notice, following a serious accident reported at Orient Beach this morning. #buffalocity #EasternCape https://t.co/o3io86AuxM
— Buffalo City Metro Municipality (@OfficialBCMM) October 20, 2026
Shark attacks on humans remain relatively rare even in South African waters. According to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File, 65 unprovoked attacks were recorded worldwide in 2025, nine of which were fatal. One of these occurred in South Africa. Experts point out that the frequency of encounters can be influenced by several factors, including the increase in people frequenting the coasts, environmental changes and the movements of sharks and their prey.