Authorities are searching for a 55-year-old woman who disappeared while swimming off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove on Dec. 21. Witnesses reported a large splash about 100 yards from shore, and one person reported seeing a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body. A multi-agency search involving boats, drones and a helicopter is underway. Officials say the possible shark sighting is unconfirmed and the investigation remains ongoing.
55-Year-Old Swimmer Missing Off California’s Lovers Point; Possible Shark Sighting Triggers Multi-Agency Search
welcomia/GettyLovers Point, Pacific Grove, California (stock image)
Authorities in California are conducting an active search-and-rescue operation after a 55-year-old woman went missing while swimming off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove on Sunday, Dec. 21.
The swimmer, who has not been publicly identified, was reported missing at about noon during a routine outing with a local swim club. Fellow swimmers raised the alarm after one member failed to return to shore when the group finished the session.
Witness accounts and reported shark sighting
According to multiple local outlets, witnesses said they observed a large splash roughly 100 yards from the shoreline. Two people told police they believed the swimmer may have come into contact with a shark. One witness reportedly described seeing a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body, then submerge without resurfacing.
“We had a swim club that does a weekly swim out here off Lovers Point,” Pacific Grove Police Department Commander Brian Anderson told CBS News. “They immediately called all the swimmers in and there was one swimmer who hasn't reported back yet.”
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Petty Officer Christopher Sappey confirmed there was a reported shark sighting in the area but cautioned that investigators currently have no definitive evidence linking that sighting to the missing swimmer.
adamkaz/GettyPacific Grove California (stock image)
Multi-agency response
Search-and-rescue efforts are being led by the Pacific Grove Police Department and the Monterey Fire Department, with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office and California State Parks. The coordinated response has deployed boats, drones and a helicopter to search coastal waters and shoreline areas.
As a precaution, Lovers Point Beach and several nearby Monterey beaches have been closed and officials issued advisories for Alisomar State Beach, Monterey Municipal Beach, Del Monte Beach and Monterey State Beach through Tuesday.
Ongoing investigation
Investigators and rescue teams continue to comb the area. Authorities emphasize that, while the shark sighting has been reported, there is no confirmed evidence that a shark was involved in the swimmer’s disappearance. The identity of the missing woman has not been released. People in the area are asked to avoid entering the water while the search continues and to report any relevant information to local authorities.
PEOPLE and other outlets have contacted the Pacific Grove Police Department, Monterey Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office and California State Parks for further comment.
