Who was Erica Fox? Family identifies missing swimmer after body recovered off California coast amid shark sighting reports | International Sports News
A body found in the ocean off the California coast has now been identified as Erica Fox, a 55-year-old swimmer who went missing six days ago. She disappeared while swimming near Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, California, on December 21.The body was recovered on Saturday, December 27, from the water south of Davenport Beach. Authorities said the area is only a few miles north of where Fox was last seen. The recovery came after days of searching and growing concern following reports of a shark sighting at the time she vanished.While officials did not first confirm the identity, Erica Fox’s family later stepped forward. Her father told ABC’s Santa Cruz affiliate KSBW, as reported by ABC News, that the family identified the body based on the clothes she was wearing when she went missing.The case remains under investigation, but the discovery brings painful clarity after nearly a week of uncertainty for Fox’s loved ones.
Erica Fox disappeared while swimming as shark sighting was reported near lovers point
On December 21, Erica Fox was swimming off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, located in Monterey County. Around that same time, a shark sighting was reported in the area. Soon after, Fox did not return, and she was reported missing.Pacific Grove Police later confirmed her identity in a statement shared on Instagram. They said search crews worked for more than 15 hours across 84 square nautical miles before suspending the operation. The department shared sympathy for Fox’s family and loved ones.The body was later found south of Davenport Beach in Santa Cruz County. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office announced the recovery in a Facebook post. The office said it was working closely with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the Pacific Grove Police Department because of the nearby shark incident.Photos shared by Cal Fire showed firefighters using a rope system to move the body from the beach to the cliffs above. Officials did not first confirm the person’s identity or gender.On December 28, Erica Fox’s father spoke to KSBW, according to ABC News, saying the family recognized the body by her clothing.Earlier, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Christopher Sappey confirmed a shark sighting had been reported. He told SFGATE, “The person who reported the shark sighting claimed they saw a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth. They then witnessed the shark submerge below the waterline without resurfacing.”Sappey added, “I can confirm that there was a reported sighting in the area, however we cannot necessarily correlate this sighting with the missing person as there is no confirming evidence of that.”The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said more details will be shared as the investigation continues. Officials did not respond to PEOPLE magazine’s request for comment as of Monday, December 29.Also Read: Who Is The Richest Swimmer In 2025? Top 10 Olympic Stars And Their Fortunes Revealed
