Woman Killed by Shark in South Africa Beach Attack
Source reports published 21 Oct 2026, 4:03 am – 4:30 am AEST
A 65-year-old woman died after being attacked by a shark at Orient Beach in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Local authorities closed two beaches following the incident and initiated an inquest.
What happened
- On Tuesday, a 65-year-old woman was fatally attacked by a shark at Orient Beach, a popular location in KuGompo city, formerly East London, South Africa’s southeastern coast.
- Police responded to the scene at approximately 7:00 am, discovering the woman’s body.
- Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, a spokesperson for Eastern Cape police, confirmed the incident and stated that an inquest had been opened.
- Luzuko Buku, a municipal spokesman for the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, expressed sadness regarding the tragic loss of a swimmer.
- Mike Loewe, a fellow swimmer, reported that members of an open-water swimming group responded to the woman’s distress signal and assisted in bringing her ashore.
- The beaches were subsequently closed by the municipal authorities.
Original reporting
- Sky News: Swimmer killed in shark attack in South Africa
2026-10-20T18:30:00+00:00 - South China Morning Post: Shark kills woman swimming off South Africa’s Eastern Cape
2026-10-20T18:03:29+00:00