A Shark Breaks Through The Nets In Reunion And Attacks A 21-Year-Old Surfer

After a relatively quiet year on Réunion Island, tragedy has struck again when a 21-year-old surfer was attacked by a shark at a beach near Boucan-Canot.

It’s been reported that the victim, who has yet to be identified, suffered major injuries to his left arm and right foot. He was airlifted via helicopter to a trauma center in Saint-Denis for treatment. After a deadly few years on the Indian Ocean island, this is the first attack on Réunion Island this year.

Last year new shark barriers were installed around Boucan-Canot, but on Saturday morning boating and swimming were officially prohibited after authorities made an early-morning inspection and found the barrier to be non-operational. With ample swell in the water, the nets weren’t functioning as intended, thus the water was closed. Local authorities announced that they were considering fishing for the shark in local waters.

In 2015 there were 47 sharks caught in Réunion Island. It is currently home to 13 percent of the world’s fatal shark attacks. Between 2011 and there were 2015 there were 18 people attacked and seven fatalities.