A California open-water swimmer who disappeared during a routine group swim in Monterey Bay was killed by a single, devastating shark bite, according to newly released autopsy findings.

Erica Fox, 55, vanished on December 21, 2025, while swimming near Lovers Point in Pacific Grove. More than seven months later, the details of what happened have been revealed in the autopsy report.

She disappeared in the middle of a group swim
Fox was an experienced endurance athlete and co-founder of Kelp Krawlers, an open-water swimming group that regularly gathered at Lovers Point.

On the afternoon of December 21, Fox was swimming ahead of the group when she suddenly disappeared.

Witnesses reported seeing a large splash and what appeared to be a shark in the area. One motorist told authorities they saw a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body before disappearing beneath the surface.

A massive search operation followed.

The U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies searched more than 80 square nautical miles of ocean, but Fox could not be found.

Her body was found six days later
On December 27, firefighters recovered a woman’s body from the ocean near a remote beach south of Davenport, roughly 25 miles from where Fox disappeared.

The body was later identified as Fox.

At first, authorities could confirm only that she had suffered severe injuries and drowned. The full circumstances became clearer after the investigation and autopsy.

The autopsy revealed one catastrophic bite
The newly released report found that Fox suffered one powerful shark bite extending from her knees toward her abdomen.

The bite fractured her pelvis and severed a major artery.

Her wetsuit also contained a semicircular pattern of tooth marks corresponding with the injuries. She ultimately drowned after suffering the devastating injuries.

The coroner classified her death as an accident resulting from a shark attack.

What kind of shark attacked her?

Officials did not definitively identify the species.

However, marine biologists said the attack was consistent with a white shark, which are known to inhabit Monterey Bay, particularly around areas where seals and sea lions are present. One expert suggested the attack may have been a case of mistaken identity, with the swimmer potentially being mistaken for typical prey.

Despite the terrifying circumstances, experts emphasize that fatal shark attacks remain extremely rare.

Fox’s death was reportedly the only shark-related fatality in the United States in 2025.

She had spent years in the water
Fox wasn’t an inexperienced swimmer taking a casual dip.

She was a seasoned endurance athlete who had completed major open-water and triathlon events, including the Escape from Alcatraz swim 19 times. Swimming in the ocean was a major part of her life.

Her husband later said there was some comfort in knowing that she died while doing something she loved.

For the swimming community around Monterey Bay, her death was especially painful.

A place where experienced swimmers gathered every week had suddenly become the scene of a rare and devastating tragedy.

She entered the water with a group of fellow swimmers.

Minutes later, she was gone.

Months afterward, an autopsy finally revealed what happened beneath the surface: one massive shark bite, followed by drowning.