Woman Wearing a "Shark-Repellent Anklet" Dies After Being Bitten by a Shark While Swimming

Killed in Shark Attack off South African Coast
About Six Shark Attacks Occur in South Africa Each Year

A woman swimming off the coast of South Africa died after being attacked by a shark.

According to reports on Tuesday (local time) by South African media outlets, including News24, a 65-year-old woman identified as Ms. A was bitten by a shark while swimming on Tuesday morning at Orient Beach in Kgompo City, in the Eastern Cape province of eastern South Africa.

Sharks spotted off the coast of South Africa. The photo is unrelated to the article. AP-Yonhap News Agency

According to the reports, the shark bit Ms. A on her thigh and arms, among other areas. Her companions immediately brought her out of the water after the attack, but she reportedly died at the scene because her wounds were too deep.

A companion who had been swimming with the woman told local media, “She was someone who enjoyed swimming alone. She was brave.” The companion added, “She was a recently retired healthcare professional and musician, and her death is a great sadness for us.”

The South African municipality responsible for the coast where the incident occurred temporarily closed Orient Beach and nearby beaches. Local media reported that the group, including the woman, was wearing so-called “shark-repellent anklets” at the time of the incident.

Shark-repellent anklets, which use electric or magnetic mechanisms, are sold by some overseas online retailers as devices that keep sharks away. However, their effectiveness in providing protection has not been clearly verified. The type of anklet worn by Ms. A is unknown.

South Africa’s coast reportedly sees an average of about six shark attacks each year. According to information on a coastal information portal published by a South African provincial government, one person also died in a shark attack at a South African beach last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.