Triathlete's Body Discovered on Beach Six Days After Rare Shark Attack Off U.S. Coast

THE body of a triathlete feared to have been killed by a shark was found on a beach – six days after the suspected attack.

while she was in the water off the coast of California on December 21.

Erica Fox’s body was found six days after she was reportedly mauled by a shark off the California coastlineCredit: Facebook Fire crews were seen using a rope system to retrieve her bodyCredit: Cal Fire CZU

She and 15 other swimmers were in the water near Lover’s Point when she disappeared.

Her body was found six days later near Davenport Beach – around 30 miles from where she was last seen.

James Fox, Erica’s dad, confirmed the remains were in fact his daughters.

Firefighters were seen using a rope system to retrieve Fox’s body.

She was wearing a black and blue wetsuit and a Garmin watch, as per The Mercury News.

Fox was wearing a shark band – a device designed to deter sharks from attacking.

No further details about the condition of the body have been revealed.

Fox, who had completed two Ironman events, was swimming with members of the Kelp Krawlers before she vanished.

The athlete, who performed in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon event for 20 years, helped launch the swimming group around two decades ago.

Her husband of 30 years, Jean-Francois Vanreusel, was among the swimmers.

A witness claimed they saw a shark with a human in its mouth before disappearing under the waterline.

A second witness said they saw a large splash.

After receiving the initial reports, Coast Guard officials said there was no evidence Fox had been attacked by a shark.

Sharks migrate to warmer waters in the winter months, making attacks in the Northern Hemisphere rare.

Fox was a passionate ecologist and shared posts on social media claiming humans were more dangerous than sharks.

In 2022, she told The Independent she felt more at risk cycling than being in the water.

“As soon as you dive in the water, you’re immediately in a foreign land. We are the ocean ecology’s humbled guests,” she said.

“I feel more vulnerable riding my bike than being in the water.”

Vanreusel said his late wife didn’t want to live her life in fear, as reported by the Mercury News.

Fox’s death comes three years after after being savaged near Lover’s Point.

despite needing 30 pints of blood.

Before Fox’s death, the last time someone was killed in a shark attack off Lover’s Point was December 1952.

She vanished near Lover’s Point beachCredit: NBC Fox was an avid triathlete and completed Ironman challengesCredit: Facebook Coast Guard officials combed the water before ending their searchCredit: NBC