Ocean swimmer Erica Fox was killed in December by a single powerful
shark bite in the waters near Monterey, according to a newly released autopsy report that a researcher said bolsters a theory about relatively rare shark attacks on people.
The report, released late Wednesday, adds new details to
the initial finding released in January by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coronerās Office that Fox, whose body washed ashore north of Santa Cruz nearly a week after she failed to return from a swim near Monterey, was killed by a shark.
Chris Lowe, a professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, said Thursday that it is noteworthy that there was only one bite, as with most fatalities from great white sharks.
āThe only explanation we can come up with in cases like this is that the shark made a mistake,ā he said. āIt mistook a person for a seal or a sea lion.ā