Cape Town - Condolences have gone out to the family of a 39-year-old Cape Town woman who died following a shark attack at Plettenberg Bay’s Central Beach on Sunday morning.
The incident is reported to have occurred in the early hours of the morning, before life savers at the Central Beach arrived on duty.
It's alleged the woman was swimming when she was attacked by the shark.
The incident came after an appeal was issued by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to the public to exercise caution along the Plettenberg Bay and Southern Cape coastline after four sharks were spotted feeding on a whale carcass in the area a few weeks ago.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said: “NSRI Plettenberg Bay and the police services were activated at 7.53am following reports of a shark incident at Central Beach. The sea rescue craft Eric Stratford was launched.
“On arrival at the scene, the body of a 39-year-old female from Cape Town was recovered from the water and brought to the beach. Police have taken the body into their care together with government health and forensic pathology services and police have opened an inquest docket.”
Bitou Municipality spokesperson Andile Namntu said the council in May approved research on shark barrier at Central Beach.
“This study will go a long way to assist in understanding the behaviour of the sharks. At this moment there seems to be more shark activity on our beaches.
“This is very unusual when compared with previous years. Bitou Municipality has also established a shark committee to work with experienced private sector personnel to assist with limiting such incidents,” he said.
This is a developing story.
Cape Times