Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
A 13-year-old boy has been killed by a shark while surfing off the French island of Reunion.
Witnesses watched in horror as Elio Canestri was knocked off his board and had arms and legs as well as part of his stomach torn off by the shark in the attack.
“It is horrific,” a witness to the attack told a local radio station.
Emergency services tried to rescue the boy, but were unable to save him.
“A boat was launched very quickly, and the victim was dragged out of the sea, but he died from his wounds,” a spokesman told the UK’s Mirror.
“Those who witnessed the attack, including other children, are being treated for trauma.
“The boy was always smiling and happy – everybody knew him. A gendarme helicopter appeared very quickly, and we were all told to evacuate the beach.”Elio was surfing with several others in an area reportedly banned to the public because of the risk of sharks.
French surfer Jeremy Flores paid tribute to the teen on his Instagram page.
“ANOTHER shark attack in Reunion island this morning,” he wrote.
“13 years old Elio was one of our best up and coming surfer. Words can’t describe how sad and angry I am. So you!!!
