List of fatal shark attacks in Réunion explained

This is a list of fatal shark attacks in Réunion. Reunion is an overseas department and region of France and an island in the Indian Ocean with over 207 km (128 miles) of coastline and hundreds of public and private beaches.[1]

As of late 2018 there have been 27 fatal attacks and 56 total attacks since 1913.[2] The island was the locale for over 16% of the world's fatal attacks from 2011 to 2016.[3] The reason for the frequency of fatal attacks has to do with the island's tropical location. The island is situated in a so-called "shark highway" between Australia and South Africa, two countries with shark dominated waters. Many large sharks who use this shark highway find Réunion home due to its diverse aquatic ecosystem and coral reefs, offering sharks a thriving home.[4] [5] [6]

A study released in 2015 showed Réunion had recorded a remarkable 3.15 shark-related deaths per one million people, by far the highest in the world. The next highest rating was that of South Africa, with 0.76 per one million residents, while the United States had a rate of 0.0013 per million.[7]

2000s

!Name !Sex !Date!Location spot !Species !Details!Ref(s)
Kim Mahbouli, 28M9 May 2019Saint-LeuunknownKim Mahbouli, from Paris, was fatally attacked near Réunion Island on a banned stretch of surf. Surfing in the area is heavily restricted due to a rise in shark attacks, and authorities reportedly issued warnings to steer clear of the water earlier that morning. Local officials said Mahbouli was with 3 friends, who were all wearing shark-repelling devices on their ankles, who tried but weren't able to get him to land. Mahbouli was not wearing a repelling device.
Floris Huet, 41M30 January 2019Saint RoseunknownHuet was fishing with seven other friends when a shark bit his leg. Huet's partners pulled him from the water, but he succumbed to his wounds. [8]
Elio Canestri, 13M12 April 2015Cap Homard, Saint-Gilles-les-BainsZambezi sharkCanestri was surfing with friends in the morning. Lifeguards say they heard Canestri shout and went to help him, and then attempted to stop the bleeding. He was pronounced dead on arrival to the hospital. [9]
Talon Bishop, 22F15 February 2015unknown Tiger sharkBishop was swimming with 12 other friends in an unknown spot when she was attacked. Her friends pulled her to shore, but her wounds were too severe and she died the following day. [10]
Sarah Roperth, 15F15 July 2013Le cimetière marin, Saint-PaulunknownRoperth was on holiday and was snorkeling with a group of tourists. Based on witness accounts, she was on the outer edge of the group in 10–12 foot waters when she was attacked. A big dorsal fin of a shark was seen behind her seconds prior to the attack. She was bitten in two at the torso, with the shark carrying off the lower half. The species of the shark is unknown. [11]
Stéphane Bearbamel, 36M8 May 2013Brisant Beach, Saint-GilliesGray reef whaler Bearbamel was body boarding when she was attacked.[12]
Alexandre Rassiga, 22M23 July 2012Trois-BassinsunknownRassiga was surfing alone when he was attacked at approximately 3:30 p.m. He succumbed to his wounds at hospital later at night.[13]
Mathieu Schiller, 38M19 September 2011Boucan-Cannot, Saint-GillesunknownAt approximately noon, Schiller's body board washed ashore with no sign of Schiller. This alerted lifeguards who at approximately 12:45 p.m. called for a full scale search. After three hours of searching, a police helicopter found Schiller's body 50 feet out on a 75-foot rock jetty. Bite wounds were discovered along his side. [14]
Eddie Aubert, 31M15 June 2011Boucan-Cannot, Saint-Gilles-les-BainsunknownAubert was attacked by an unknown species of shark while boogie boarding.[15]
Sébe Émond, 34M20 August 2006Pointe du Diable, Saint-PierreGreat white sharkÉmond was surfing alone when he was attacked by a great white. His left leg was bitten off midway up his thigh. It is believed he drowned before he could be pulled ashore. [16]

1900s

!Name, age!Male !Date!Location!Shark species!Details!Ref(s)
Guy Oudin, 52M11 April 1999Roche-aux-Oiseaux, L' Etang Salé-les-Bainsthree Bull sharksOudin was swept out to sea by a 70-foot wave while standing on a jetty. Witnesses say there were multiple dorsal fins observed around Oudin and that he was attacked nearly 300 feet from shore. His body wasn't recovered until April 13. [17]
unknownM 3 January 1999Off the coast of Saint-LeuBull sharkAn unidentified male was killed while spearfishing. [18]
Philippe Blu, 71M25 January 1998Grand'AnseBull sharkBlu was attacked when bathing at a private beach near his home.[19]
unknownunknown1 January 1998BeaufondsBull sharkAn unidentified person from Paris was killed when attacked by a bull shark near Beaufonds.[20] [21]
David Lonne, 20sM3 January 1997la Pointe-au-SelunknownLonne was spearfishing with a friend when they were both attacked. Lonne was pulled ashore by his injured friend but died on arrival to the hospital.[22]
Grégory Bénèche, 25M10 January 1996Embouchure de l'étang de Saint Paul, Saint-PaulTiger sharkBénèche was attacked by a 662 lbs (300 kg) tiger shark while surfing. The shark was later killed, with a $2,000 reward.[23]
Jerome Pruneaux, unknownM16 September 1996Saint-DenisunknownPruneaux was attacked while body boarding.[24]
Thierry Boulay, 24M9 July 1995Barachois, Saint-DenisBull sharkBoulay was attacked by a 10 or 12 foot (3.5 to 4 m) long shark while windsurfing.[25]
unknownunknown15 April 1994Lieu-dit Cayenne, Saint-JosephBull sharkAn unidentified person was killed by a bull shark at a popular beach in Saint-Joseph.[26]
Theirry Mercredi, 16M28 June 1992Cap de la Marianne, Saint-PaulLemon shark or Bull sharkMercredi was surfing when he cut his leg on coral or a rock. Moments later he was dragged off of his board and attacked. A friend who was 20 feet away paddled towards Mercredi and punched the shark away. Mercedi was conscious until medical staff arrived but his condition worsened and he succumbed to his wounds hours later. [27]
Emmanuel Nativel, unknownM22 May 1992Lieu-dit Cayenne, Saint, JosephTiger sharkNativel was killed by a 11-foot tiger shark.[28]
Bruno Giraud, 30sM19 July 1989Temple Tamoule, Sainte-SuzanneunknownGiraud was attacked while surfing.[29]
Jean-Felix Taochyn, 25M28 April 1988Embouchure de l'étang du Gol, Saint-LouisunknownTaochyn was attacked during an aquatic race and was the only death in the events history.[30]
unknownM1 January 1975Saint-DenisGreat white sharkAn unidentified Troupes de marine officer on holiday from mainland France was attacked by a great white while swimming. [31]
unknownF7 December 1972Basse Vallée, Saint-PhilippeBull sharkAn unidentified woman was attacked after falling from a yacht drunk. Witnesses say sharks had been seen in the area that past week. The woman reportedly swam towards the sharks. Police reported her death a possible suicide.[32]
unknownunknown1 December 1972Saint-PhilippeGreat white sharkAn unidentified person was attacked at a tourist beach in Saint-Philippe.[33]
unknownM1 January 1918Barachois, Saint-Denisunknown[34]
unknownM1 January 1913Barachois, Saint-DenisunknownAn unidentified man was attacked after he jumped into the harbor to retrieve his hat.[35]
unknownM1 January 1913Barachois, Saint-DenisunknownAn unindentified man was attacked while swimming. Both January 1, 1913 deaths were believed to have caused by the same shark.[36]

Attack demographics

Fatalities and attacks by species

!#!Species!Fatalities!#!Species!Total attacks
1unknown111Great white17
2Bull82Bull14
3Great white43unknown9
4Tiger34Tiger8
5Lemon15Lemon5
6Mako3

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yearly Worldwide Shark Attack Summary. 2018-01-24. Florida Museum. en-US. 2019-02-17.
  2. Web site: The Annual Worldwide Shark Attack Summary Is Out. Madden. Duncan. Forbes. en. 2019-02-17.
  3. Web site: Reunion: An In-Depth Look at the Island's Shark Attacks. Macdonald. Jessica. 2017-03-13. DeeperBlue.com. en-US. 2019-02-17.
  4. Web site: A Reunion of Sharks. Simply. Surf. Surf Simply. 27 September 2017 . en-US. 2019-02-17.
  5. Web site: The Sharks Of Reunion. Tracks. 22 February 2018 . 2019-02-17.
  6. Web site: Another Fatal Shark Attack on Reunion Island. 2017-02-17. Surfline. en-US. 2019-02-17.
  7. Web site: 2017 'average' year for shark attacks, deaths. 2018-02-05.
    1. FloridaMuseumScience
    . en-US. 2019-02-17.
  8. Web site: 2019-05-09 . Shark attack kills surfer off France's Reunion . 2023-06-22 . France 24 . en.
  9. Web site: Shark attack at Cap Homard in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-16.
  10. Web site: Shark attack at Ravine Mula in d'Étang-Salé, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-16.
  11. Web site: Shark attack at Le cimetière marin in Saint-Paul, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-16.
  12. Web site: Shark attack at Brisant Beach in Saint Gilles, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-16.
  13. Web site: Shark attack at Location unknown in Trois-Bassins, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-16.
  14. Web site: Shark attack at Boucan-Canot in Saint Gilles, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-16.
  15. Web site: Shark attack at Boucan-Canot in Saint Gilles, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  16. Web site: Shark attack at Pointe du Diable in Saint-Pierre, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  17. Web site: Shark attack at Roche-aux-Oiseaux in L' Etang Salé-les-Bains, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  18. Web site: Shark attack at Pointe au Sel in Saint-Leu, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  19. Web site: Shark Attack Data: Grand'Anse, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  20. Web site: Shark Attack Data: Beaufonds, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  21. Web site: Shark attack at Location unknown in Beaufonds, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  22. Web site: Shark attack at la Pointe-au-Sel in Area unknown, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  23. Web site: Shark attack at Embouchure de l'étang de Saint Paul in Saint-Paul, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  24. Web site: Shark attack at Location unknown in Saint-Denis, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  25. Web site: Shark attack at Barachois in Saint-Denis, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  26. Web site: Shark attack at Lieu-dit Cayenne in Saint-Joseph, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  27. Web site: Shark attack at Cap de la Marianne in Saint-Paul, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  28. Web site: Shark attack at Lieu-dit Cayenne in Saint-Joseph, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  29. Web site: Shark attack at Temple Tamoule in Sainte-Suzanne, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  30. Web site: Shark attack at Embouchure de l'étang du Gol in Saint-Louis, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  31. Web site: Shark attack at Embouchure de l'étang du Gol in Saint-Louis, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  32. Web site: Shark Attack Data: Saint-Philippe, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  33. Web site: Shark attack at Basse Vallée in Saint-Philippe, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  34. Web site: Shark attack at Barachois in Saint-Denis, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  35. Web site: Shark attack at Barachoise bridge in Saint-Denis, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.
  36. Web site: Shark attack at Barachois in 5aint-Denis, Reunion. Shark Attack Data. 2019-02-17.

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