Grim details of how shark lover's body was identified after she was killed by one of the predators while swimming off California coast
Triathlete Erica Fox who went missing near Pacific Grove, was found dead Saturday off Santa Cruz, still wearing her wetsuit, watch, and shark-repellent band.
Grim details have emerged after a shark attack claimed a triathlete who vanished off the California coast just days before Christmas.
Erica Fox's lifeless body was found on Saturday south of Davenport Beach in Santa Cruz, her husband said, after he received a call from local police, per The Mercury News.
She went missing on December 21 while swimming near Lovers Point in Pacific Grove and was discovered about 25 miles away.
The 55-year-old was still clad in her black wetsuit, wearing a white Garmin watch and a 'shark band' wrapped on her ankle.
A Garmin is a versatile fitness watch focused on sports tracking and fitness monitoring, while a 'shark band' is an electromagnetic device that goes around the wrist or ankle that helps to keep the oceanic predators at bay.
Sharks hunt using special sensory organs that detect the electrical signals given off by moving animals.
The bands use powerful magnets to disrupt this sensory system, creating an unpleasant sensation that signals danger and repels the creatures.
Fox has competed in two half-Ironman competitions and participated in an annual triathlon called Escape from Alcatraz for almost 20 years
Monterey County Sheriff's Office posts photos of their search for Erica Fox in Pacific Grove, California
Shark Repellent Bracelet, 'Sharkbanz 2,' Fox was wearing this at the time of her disappearance
While they don’t eliminate the risk, the bands have been shown to partially prevent shark attacks, according to Effectiveness of Shark Deterrents in Reducing Depredation Events in a Recreational Line Fishery.
Fox disappeared while swimming with members of the recreational swim club she co-founded 20 years ago, the Kelp Krawlers.
What is a 'Shark Band?'
A Shark Band is an electromagnetic device worn on the wrist or ankle to keep sharks at bay.
Sharks hunt by sensing the tiny electrical signals from moving animals, and the band’s powerful magnets overwhelm this system, sending an unpleasant warning that drives them away.
While they aren't 100 percent effective in preventing shark bites, studies show they partially eliminate the risk.