After searching for more than 15 hours over two days, officials have suspended their search for a swimmer who went missing off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove on Sunday, Dec. 21 at about noon.
According to a statement from the Pacific Grove Police Department, the search covered 84 square nautical miles in the area and included a surface search as well as a sub-surface search by a dive team.
Erica Fox, 55, was an experienced ocean swimmer and triathlete who was a co-creator of the ocean swim group the Kelp Krawlers more than 20 years ago. She was returning around the point toward the Lovers Point beach on a Sunday swim when an observer on land reported seeing a shark in the area Fox was swimming.
The group of roughly 15 swimmers returned to shore and realized Fox was missing.
A search ensued that involved multiple boat crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station in Monterey, the Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, and a boat crew from the Coast Guard Auxiliary, as well as local officials from the Monterey Fire Department, P.G. Police and Monterey County Sheriff's Office dive team.
The investigation into understanding what happened will continue, PGPD Brian 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,” Capt. Jordan Baldueza, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco commander, said in a statement.
Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove, and McAbee and San Carlos Beaches in Monterey will remain closed through Tuesday, Dec. 23. A beach advisory will remain in place for Asilomar State Beach, Monterey Municipal Beach, Del Monte Beach, and Monterey State Beach through Dec. 23.