22/10/2026
Bleed out and shark deterrents. Janine Lochrenberg. Gifted, talented. Died most likely of exsanguination, an immediate and catastrophic loss of blood, after a shark bit her several times on Tuesday off Orient Beach in
She bled out, possibly arteries severed, the shark bite trauma to her thigh and arm bringing a quick end. She would've lost consciousness in minutes, even seconds. And died soon after. Janine would've been unaware and felt no pain during the final stages of clinical death.
It's recorded that shark bites often target limbs, which means exsanguination, the bleeding out resulting from arterial damage, is the leading cause of death in fatal shark attacks.
But what are the chances of dying when a shark bites? About 1 in 4.3-million. Indeed, most shark bites are not fatal; the global survival rate for shark attacks is around 90% to 95%. But sharks 3.5m long or bigger, and identified as great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), exhibit distinct features during predatory or investigatory interactions.
• At 3.5m, the shark is comparable to the length of a small sedan and can easily weigh between 300kg to over 500kg.
• For a great white shark, 3.5m marks a critical biological turning point. It is transitioning into an apex sub-adult predator. Their dietary preference shifts toward large marine mammals like seals and sea lions. This shift makes them much more likely to investigate large shapes at the surface.
• Sub-adult great whites have large, triangular, serrated teeth designed for high-impact piercing and slicing. A 3.5m shark possesses enough jaw power to cause severe, life-threatening injuries, including bone fractures, major muscle tissue loss, and limb severing.
• Attacks on swimmers typically involve multiple targeted bites to the extremities—specifically the upper arms/shoulders and thighs/legs. This happens because the shark typically approaches vertically from below or laterally, clamping onto the closest moving parts of a horizontal swimmer.
• Powerful neck and head musculature allow the shark to violently shake its head side-to-side once a bite is secured. This sawing motion maximizes tissue damage.
• Marine forensic data shows that many strikes on humans by sub-adult sharks are exploratory or tempered bites (often referred to as the "mistaken identity" theory). The shark uses significantly less force on a human than it would on a seal, often releasing the person after the initial strike once it realises the target is not its preferred fatty prey.
• If a shark is actively hunting or defending territory, it alters its posture. Prior to a strike, it may drop its pectoral fins downward (rather than holding them horizontally) and arch its back slightly.
• Despite their immense size, sharks of this length have sensitive nerve endings on their snouts, eyes, and gills. Victims who manage to repeatedly punch or gouge the shark's nose and snout frequently trigger a flight response, forcing the shark to release its grip.
* Janine was in the clear, 16deg C water with the East London Open Water swimmers when the shark struck. Apparently ideal conditions, that morning, for great whites.
The shark deterrent she was wearing did not work. Why?
Because they emit fields that are too weak, rely on unproven theories, or fail to account for a shark's hunger and motivation.
While some devices—specifically certain electronic shark deterrents (ESDs)—have been scientifically proven to reduce the risk of a bite, no device is 100% effective, and many popular options on the market offer little more than a false sense of security.
Independent scientific testing, including a landmark study by the Save Our Seas Foundation, highlights several major reasons why these devices fail.
Many personal deterrents use magnets to overstimulate a shark’s electroreceptors, known as the ampullae of Lorenzini. However, seawater rapidly diminishes (attenuates) these magnetic and electric fields.
• Wearable magnetic bands create a field extending only a few centimetres.
• A shark would routinely approach within 20cm to 30cm of the device before feeling any discomfort, which is far too close to prevent an accidental or investigative bite.
Further, the shark deterrent industry lacks uniform safety and efficacy standards. Many companies market products based on abstract theories rather than rigorous, real-world data. In a controlled study testing five popular options against wild Great White sharks, four out of five devices had zero measurable impact on shark behaviour.
Even the most effective device tested still allowed sharks to take the bait 40% of the time. An electrical deterrent works by creating an uncomfortable sensation—akin to a bright light in a dark room. If a shark is highly motivated, aggressive, or starving, it will simply endure the temporary discomfort to strike its target. RIP, Janine.
* And so end the Kayser's Connect posts on the matter. Amen.
