Shark kills 13-year-old off France’s Reunion Island

[Surya Gayatri]

A 13-year-old boy was killed by a shark Sunday near the shore of the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, authorities said, the latest in a string of attacks in the waters surrounding the French overseas territory.


© Richard Bouhet / AFP (file photos) | A sign on a beach on the French island of Reunion in October, 2013

The shark tore off the boy's limbs and part of his stomach as he was swimming in an off-limits section of the ocean off the west coast of the island shortly before 9:00 am (5:00 GMT) on Sunday morning.

He was brought back onto the beach where he received emergency medical attention but succumbed to his injuries.

It was the 16th shark attack off the island since 2011 and the seventh to result in loss of life.

In February this year, island authorities extended to 2016 a law prohibiting swimming and other water-based activities, such as surfing and windsurfing, except in special areas in response to the high number of attacks.

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This has been all over the French news. For some unknown reason Indian Ocean sharks seem to have zeroed in on Réunion.

There has been a real swarm of attacks. Not good for Réunion which survives largely thanks to tourism and French subsidies.

http://www.france24.com/en/20150412-shark-kills-13-year-old-off-france-reunion-island/

[CBGLuthier]

1. We were there last month. I never go in the water.

They did an announcement on the plane that you could only swim in designated areas and we saw a lot of ocean by St. Denis with no swimming allowed at all.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. You live down in those parts, huh? Mauritius?

NOT good when a holiday island has to forbid people to go in the water.

Such a stunningly beautiful place, Réunion. Did you enjoy it?

[CBGLuthier]

3. Yes, we were only there for a couple days so we stayed in town but we walked all over the place

Next time hope to get into the mountains . They looked incredible from the city.

[Surya Gayatri]

4. Must see this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piton_de_la_Fournaise

[MoonRiver]

5. Are there large seal populations there?

[Surya Gayatri]

6. Good question - haven't read anything about that.