Authorities said the search for a triathlete who went missing off the California coast after reports of a shark sighting was suspended on Monday, Dec. 22.
Erica Fox, 55, disappeared off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, Monterey County, Calif., around noon on Sunday, Dec. 21. An experienced ocean swimmer, Fox co-founded the ocean swim group the Kelp Krawlers more than 20 years ago and was in the water with a group of 15 swimmers at the time.
Her father, James Fox, told NBC News that she and her friends were swimming out to a buoy in Monterey Bay and were on their way back toward the point at Lovers Point beach when she went missing.
Around the same time, two witnesses on shore reported seeing a shark in the area.
A witness told police they saw splashing in the water when Fox disappeared about 100 yards off Lovers Point, CBS San Francisco reports. Another person reported seeing a “large splash,” according to SFGATE.
Pacific Grove Police Department Commander Brian Anderson told CBS San Francisco that officers alerted all swimmers to return to shore. “There was one swimmer who hasn’t reported back yet,” he said. When the group made it back to land, they realized Fox was missing.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Christopher Sappey told SFGate that a witness to the shark sighting “claimed they saw a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth.”
“They then witnessed the shark submerge below the waterline without resurfacing,” Sappey said, adding, “We cannot necessarily correlate this sighting with the missing person as there is no confirming evidence of that.”
Around 7 p.m. local time on Monday, Dec. 22, the Pacific Grove Police Department confirmed the coordinated search was suspended after covering more than 84 square nautical miles over more than 15 hours. Agencies involved included the U.S. Coast Guard’s Monterey, San Francisco and Auxiliary stations, the Pacific Grove Police Department, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office dive team and the Monterey Fire Department.
“Detectives will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance,” Anderson said in a statement. “We remain committed to determining what happened and following every available lead.”
“The Coast Guard extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones affected by this tragic incident,” Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Captain Jordan Bladueza said.
Monterey Fire Chief Andrew Miller also shared “heartfelt sympathies to Erica’s family and loved ones,” adding, “This is a deeply felt tragedy for our community. We are grateful to all the agencies and first responders who joined the search and provided their support during this incident.”
Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove, along with McAbee and San Carlos beaches in Monterey, will stay closed through Tuesday, Dec. 23.
Erica’s father told NBC News he was in “shock,” adding, “I’m kind of numbed by all this, because it was just out of the blue.”
“Erica was doing something yesterday that she really loved,” he said. “Swimming was her forte. She just loved that.”
“Just an ideal person,” he added. “I’m not saying that just because she’s my daughter, but that’s the way she was — just a wonderful, caring person.”
