A man who ignored warnings not to surf off the coast of Reunion Island has died after being attacked by a shark.
Alexandre Naussance, 26, who was once employed as a shark spotter by a surfing association, was attacked while body boarding off the northeast coast of the French territory in the Indian Ocean.
He was pulled out of the water by fishermen but pronounced dead after the animal bit through a major artery in his leg.
"This accident was happened even though swimming and other water sports are in this area," the local government office said in a statement.
It is reported young people had been there for several days, despite being warned by locals of a shark.
This is the 20th shark attack - eight of which have been fatal - off Reunion since 2011. The island is part of France and has a population of almost 850,000.
The attack on Mr Naussance is the first since August, when a 21-year-old surfer who was in the water despite a red warning flag was bitten by a bull shark. He had to have an arm and a leg amputated.
Authorities have installed nets and tried to warn swimmers and surfers of the dangers lurking in the seas around the island.
Surfing competitions only returned to Reunion 12 months ago following a five-year absence after a shark attacked local surf champion Eric Dargent.
Alexandre Naussance, 26, who was once employed as a shark spotter by a surfing association, was attacked while body boarding off the northeast coast of the French territory in the Indian Ocean.
He was pulled out of the water by fishermen but pronounced dead after the animal bit through a major artery in his leg.
"This accident was happened even though swimming and other water sports are in this area," the local government office said in a statement.
It is reported young people had been there for several days, despite being warned by locals of a shark.
This is the 20th shark attack - eight of which have been fatal - off Reunion since 2011. The island is part of France and has a population of almost 850,000.
The attack on Mr Naussance is the first since August, when a 21-year-old surfer who was in the water despite a red warning flag was bitten by a bull shark. He had to have an arm and a leg amputated.
Authorities have installed nets and tried to warn swimmers and surfers of the dangers lurking in the seas around the island.
Surfing competitions only returned to Reunion 12 months ago following a five-year absence after a shark attacked local surf champion Eric Dargent.
