Surfer, 13, killed in shark attack off La Reunion

FRANCE-REUNION-SHARK-ATTACK-TOURISM-ACCIDENT

A teenage boy has died after being attacked by a shark off the island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean.

The 13-year-old surfer was in an off-limits section of water off the west coast of the French island when the shark tore off the right side of his body, AFP reports.

Elio Canestri is said to have been a talented surfer.

According to the BBC, rescuers arrived at the scene quickly but were unable to save the boy.

Local authorities deployed specialist boats to locate the shark.

There have been 16 shark attacks off the island since 2011 and seven fatalities.

In February, a woman was killed in a shark attack on the island.

The 20-year-old woman reportedly suffered serious injuries to her leg as she swam close to the beach in southwestern l'Etang-Sale.

The woman received first aid at the beach before being transported to hospital. According to local sources, the woman died of cardiac arrest as a result of her injuries.

Reunion Island has one of the deadliest coastlines in the world. Back in May 2013, a French honeymooner was killed by a shark while surfing off the popular beach of Brisants de Saint-Gilles in Reunion.