SAN FRANCISCO—On December 22, the U.S. Coast Gaurd the U.S. Coast Guard and the city of Pacific Grove, and the city of Monterey updated a joint statement alerting the public of a swimmer reported missing off Lovers Point.
The search for Erica Fox, 55, of Monterey County was called off after a reported 15 hours of search operations covering an area of over 84 nautical miles.
Pacific Grove Police Commander Brian Anderson initially indicated that there was a missing swimmer at the beginning of the search.
“We had a swim club that does a weekly swim out here off Lovers Point. They immediately called all the swimmers, and one hasn’t reported back yet.”
Members of this swim club swim at Lovers Point every Sunday.
“She’s a 55-year-old blonde woman with blue eyes who is currently missing and who we’re searching for,” Anderson stated.
The rest of the swimmers returned to shore after witnesses on the shoreline reported that they saw a large splash at approximately 12 p.m. on Sunday.
Two witnesses indicated they may have encountered a shark while swimming near Lovers Point.
Search and rescue efforts were made by the U.S. Coast Guard, Seaside Fire, CAL Fire, and Monterey Fire Departments. They searched until 8 p.m. with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office before calling off the search. The family has been notified.
Soon after the initial press release was made, more graphic reports were made, but have not been verified.
“The person who reported the shark sighting claimed they saw a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body in his mouth,” U.S. Coast Guard Officers Christopher Sappey told USA Today.
This incident has not been ruled a shark attack. Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove, McAbee, and San Carlos Beaches in Monterey have been closed through Tuesday out of an abundance of caution.
In addition, there is a beach advisory in place for Asilomar State Beach, Monterey Municipal Beach, Del Monte Beach, and Monterey State Beach through Tuesday, December 23.
