A woman who disappeared during a swim on Sunday is suspected to have possibly encountered a shark along the California coastline, officials announced.
Authorities, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the cities of Pacific Grove and Monterey, reported that a 55-year-old woman went missing near Lovers Point in Pacific Grove around noon on Sunday.
According to two witnesses, there is a possibility the swimmer made contact with a shark. Consequently, the Pacific Grove Police Department is investigating the situation as a potential shark attack, as relayed to CBS News.
A great white shark’s fin breaking the water’s surface. (iStock)
Brian Anderson, a commander with the Pacific Grove Police Department, explained to CBS San Francisco, “We had a swim club conducting their weekly swim off Lovers Point. They quickly called all swimmers back, but one individual remains unaccounted for.”
Coast Guard Petty Officer Christopher Sappey shared with SF Gate that someone reported seeing a shark in the area.
A search was being conducted Monday for a missing swimmer along Pacific Grove Beach. Two witnesses reported seeing a shark in the area. (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“The person who reported the shark sighting claimed they saw a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth,” he said. “They then witnessed the shark submerge below the waterline without resurfacing.”
The Coast Guard told Fox News Digital that it couldn’t confirm that the case is “correlated with the report of a witnessed shark attack due to insufficient evidence.”
A search effort was launched but by 8 p.m. Sunday, the woman was still missing, the Coast Guard said. Efforts were expected to resume Monday morning.
Lovers Point Beach, as well as McAbee and San Carlos beaches, will remain closed through Tuesday.
A beach advisory will remain in place for Asilomar State Beach, Monterey Municipal Beach, Del Monte Beach and Monterey State Beach through Tuesday, SF Gate reported.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pacific Grove Police Department,
