A fatal shark attack has left a 39-year-old woman dead in South Africa.
Beaches have been shut around Plettenberg Bay on South Africa's southern Cape coastline following the shocking killing on Sunday morning.
It is the second deadly shark attack in the small town since late June.
A spokesman for South Africa's National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Craig Lambinon said local NSRI and South Africa Police Service (SAPS) units were scrambled at around 7.53am local time (6.53am BST).
"The sea rescue craft Eric Stratford was launched," Craig said. "On arrival at the scene, the body of a believed to be 39-year-old female from Cape Town was recovered from the water and brought to the beach."
An inquest has been opened by police and the unnamed woman's body is in the care of the Western Cape Government Health and Forensic Pathology Services.
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The public has been urged to be careful along the Plettenberg Bay and Southern Cape coastline.
It comes just days after the NCRI and Bitou Municipality both issued a warning due to increasing shark activity from the animals feeding on humpback whale carcasses washing ashore.
On June 28 this year, swimmer Bruce Wolov was killed by a shark at Plettenberg Bay's Sanctuary Beach.
At the time, the town's mayor Dave Swart said the community did its "utmost to ensure the safety of its residents and visitors and is extremely saddened when tragic events beyond its control happen".
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He added: "While Plettenberg Bay is renowned for its natural beauty, both on land and in the sea, we need to constantly remind ourselves that we are visitors in nature and need to exercise caution when out in the natural environment.
"We urge all participants in water activities at sea to exercise caution, be aware of their surroundings and to heed any warnings from anyone in a position of authority."
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