World · Africa · 18 hrs ago
Woman, 65, killed in shark attack at South African beach
A 65-year-old woman was killed in a shark attack on Tuesday while swimming at Orient Beach in KuGompo City, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
She was swimming with a group and was brought ashore after others saw she was in trouble.
She was pronounced dead at the beach, and the shark species has not been identified.
Police have opened an inquest into her death.
Orient and Eastern beaches are closed until further notice, and officials have warned people to stay out of the water there.
Authorities have also issued warnings for other local beaches and urged visitors to follow safety instructions.
Shark attacks in South Africa are rare, but the closures remain in place until officials lift them.
A 65-year-old woman died after a shark attack at Orient Beach in South Africa’s Eastern Cape on Tuesday.
She was swimming with a group when she indicated she was in trouble and was bitten on her thigh and upper arm.
Other swimmers brought her ashore, where she was pronounced dead.
Authorities opened an inquest and closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice.
The shark species has not been identified.
- Who
- A 65-year-old woman was killed. Her name has not been released.
- What
- She died after a shark attack while swimming.
- When
- Tuesday morning, October 20, 2026.
- Where
- Orient Beach in KuGompo city, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
- Why
- The sources report a shark attack but do not state why it occurred.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The woman was attacked while swimming with a group at Orient Beach.
Swimmers brought her ashore, where she was pronounced dead.
Police opened an inquest into her death.
Authorities closed Orient Beach and nearby Eastern Beach until further notice.
- Victim
- 65-year-old woman
- Beach
- Orient Beach, KuGompo city
- Province
- Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Injuries
- Bites to her thigh and upper arm
- Beach closures
- Orient Beach and Eastern Beach
- Investigation
- Police opened an inquest
11 sources
هجوم قرش يودي بحياة امرأة قبالة الساحل الجنوبي الشرقي لجنوب أفريقيا
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Tödliches Unglück: 65-Jährige stirbt nach Haiangriff an beliebtem Strand in Südafrika
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Woman, 65, killed in shark attack at South African beach
Swimmer killed by shark off South Africa's Eastern Cape
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Woman dies after shark attack at Orient Beach in Eastern Cape
What people are saying
The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality is deeply saddened to confirm that a fatal shark attack occurred at the Orient Beach this morning, resulting in the tragic loss of a swimmer
She liked to swim solo
She was courageous
We all realised she’d been bitten by a shark and she was in a very bad way