Janine Was Happiest In The Ocean. It Is Where She Lost Her Life

The 65-year-old open swimmer mauled to death by a shark at Orient Beach in KuGompo City yesterday will be remembered as someone who was happiest in the ocean.

Janine Lochrenberg died around 8am yesterday morning in what Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality authorities described as the city’s first fatal shark attack in years. The incident prompted municipality to close both Orient Beach and Eastern Beach yesterday, with the city urging beachgoers to remain vigilant.

The attack sent shockwaves through the close-knit open water swimming community and around the world. Shark attacks at Orient Beach are extremely rare. It made headlines in all major news networks

The last known attack in and around KuGompo City is believed to have occurred in 2021 when Robert Frauenstein, who disappeared while bodyboarding alone near Chintsa. His body was never recovered, but his surfboard was found with teeth marks believed to have been from a large great white shark. Local ocean lovers yesterday could not remember the last fatal attack at Orient Beach.

Lochrenberg, who retired recently, was bitten twice, on the thigh and upper thigh in what witnesses believe were bites possibly from a great white shark. She bled out and died on the beach, despite efforts to help her.

Late yesterday her friends started remembering her as a slight, clever, feisty and talented musician. “Janine, rest in peace. You were in your happy place in the ocean. (you were a) colleague and friend since 2015. You will be missed,” wrote Timothear Scharneck in the East London Open Water Swimming group on Facebook.

Many said they will remember her as a woman whose life extended beyond her professional career. Having recently retired as a radiographer, she was also a talented musician and an accomplished open water swimmer. Her passion for swimming brought her together with fellow open water swimmers, with whom she trained regularly.

At the time of the incident, she was taking part in distance training for an upcoming event. She was one of five open water swimmers in the water. The group had already swum 2.5km as part of their training when a fin was spotted from the shore by a friend. Her fellow swimmers tried to swim her to shore.

“Devastated by the news. Janine was alarmingly intelligent and talented. But most of all so kind and listened so well with her quiet, genuine demeanor. Condolences to the entire water community of East London,” said Marion Anderson.

An eyewitness, who was in the water with Lochrenberg when she was attacked, said: “She had horrible wounds on her body. It looked like possibly one bite only and left her alone. But she bled out.”

The two beaches remained closed last night.