Search and rescue operations continued Monday morning, December 22 for a missing 55-year-old woman who swam off a popular beach in Pacific Grove after a shark sighting the previous day.
Around 12 pm on Sunday, December 21, the Pacific Grove Police Department and the Monterey Fire Department responded to a report of a missing swimmer from Lovers Point, according to a joint statement from the City of Pacific Grove, City of Monterey and US Coast Guard.
“Two witnesses indicated that the swimmer may have encountered a shark while swimming off the coast near Lovers Point,” the release states.
Emergency response teams began to carry out a search and rescue mission with the support of the United States Coast Guard, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, and the California State Parks, but until 8 in the evening local time, the swimmer had not yet been spotted.
The multi-agency response was supported by aircraft, boats, drones and divers.
As of 2:00 p.m. on Monday, the swimmer had still not been found.
“Search and rescue operations continued this morning and will end today,” said Commander Brian Anderson of the Pacific Grove Police Department. “However, the investigation of the missing persons will continue, and we are ready to respond if any new information comes forward.”
Lovers Point is located in Pacific Grove, a coastal town near Monterey about 115 miles south of San Francisco.
Officials continued to search for a missing swimmer Monday morning, December 22, 2025 after a reported shark sighting off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove in Northern California that closed several beaches.
The swimmer’s identification has not been officially released by law enforcement pending notification of family members.
“We are respecting the man’s wishes at this time and not confirming the name of the swimmer so he can have time to notify the family,” Anderson said.
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‘Human body in his mouth’
On Sunday, Anderson told KSBW-TV, the missing swimmer was swimming “with a regular group that meets in the area every Sunday.”
The group entered the water as usual and a witness on the shore reported seeing a “big splash” when the woman disappeared, police told the outlet, which caused the other swimmers to return to shore “due to concern that it might have been a shark attack. Everyone in the group returned safely except for the missing swimmer.”
US Coast Guard Officer Christopher Sappey reported that one witness described seeing a terrifying encounter between a person in the water and a shark.
“The person who reported the shark sighting claimed to have seen a shark breaching the water with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth,” Sappey told SF Gate. “Then they saw the shark dive below the water line without resurfacing.”
Anderson confirmed to the Salinas Californian on Monday that “based on witness statements we believe a shark was involved.”
Lovers Point Beach and nearby swimming spots closed
Lovers Point Beach, as well as McAbee and San Carlos Beaches in Monterey, will remain closed as a precautionary measure until Tuesday, December 23, officials of the two cities announced.
A notice posted on social media will remain in effect for the following locations:
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“We just want to remind the public to share our waters with wildlife and to swim with a friend and be aware of your surroundings,” said Anderson.
The Red Triangle
Lover’s Point, a popular swimming and wading spot in Pacific Grove, draws beachgoers year-round with its turquoise waters.
The location is also part of the Red Triangle, a stretch of ocean in Northern California that has one of the highest concentrations of great white sharks in the world.
Since 1993, there have been six deaths in California attributed to white sharks.
As of Monday, December 22, there have been three shark attacks on a person reported in California this year.
Neither resulted in a fatality, according to reports.
According to data from the International Shark Attack File, managed by the Florida Museum of Natural History, the world averages 65 documented shark attacks each year.
Last year, 47 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Swimmer missing after shark sighting in California, beaches closed