PACIFIC GROVE — The search for a reported missing swimmer off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, identified as Erica Fox, 55, of Pebble Beach, was suspended Monday afternoon.
“I’m in shock, and I’m kind of numbed by all this, because it was just out of the blue,” said James Fox, father of Erica Fox, to NBC News on Monday. “Erica was doing something yesterday that she really loved.”
He added that his daughter was a triathlete who swam with a group of friends in Monterey Bay every Sunday.
Erica Fox was a co-founder of the Kelp Krawlers, a swimming group she helped start 20 years ago, according to social media posts.
On Sunday, the Pacific Grove Police Department and Monterey Fire Department were called about a missing swimmer off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove at 12:04 p.m. Two witnesses indicated the swimmer may have encountered a shark while swimming offshore near Lovers Point. Pacific Grove Police Department and Monterey Fire Department initiated joint command for the incident and began conducting a search and rescue mission with support from the United States Coast Guard, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and California State Parks.
The first report of a shark attack was from a person who was at a nearby stop sign driving to work, Coast Guard spokesperson Christopher Sappey told NBC News. That person reported seeing a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth. The shark then plunged beneath the waterline without resurfacing.
Sappey said the missing person was swimming among a group of 17 people and was unaccounted for after the fact. Officials said the rest of the group exited the water shortly afterward, suspecting there had been a shark attack in their group.
By 8 p.m., on Sunday, the swimmer was still not spotted, and efforts resumed the following morning by the Pacific Grove Police Department, Monterey Fire Department, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Coast Guard. The family of the swimmer was notified of the situation.
The decision to suspend the search was made following a total of more than 15 hours of search operations covering an area of more than 84 square nautical miles, according to a joint release from officials.
“The Coast Guard extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones affected by this tragic incident,” said Capt. Jordan Bladueza, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco commander in the release.
Rescue crews involved in the search included multiple boat crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station Monterey, multiple air crews from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, and a boat crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Five Pacific Grove Police Department personnel, including a commander and several officers, responded to the incident, along with four members of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office dive team, including one commander. A total of 21 Monterey Fire Department personnel responded to the incident, including a chief officer and the Monterey Fire Department’s fire boat.
“While coordinated search operations have concluded, detectives will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance,” said Cmdr. Brian Anderson of the Pacific Grove Police Department. “We remain committed to determining what happened and following every available lead.”
Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove and McAbee and San Carlos beaches in Monterey were to remain closed through Tuesday, and a beach advisory was to remain in place for Asilomar State Beach, Monterey Municipal Beach, Del Monte Beach and Monterey State Beach also through Tuesday.
“On behalf of the cites of Monterey and Pacific Grove and our first responders, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to Erica’s family and loved ones,” said Monterey Fire Chief Andrew Miller. “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.”
