List of fatal shark attacks in Réunion

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A "Danger Requin" or caution sharks sign at a beach near Saint-Denis.

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[edit]

Name Sex Date Location spot Species Details Ref(s)
Kim Mahbouli, 28 M 9 May 2019 Saint-Leu unknown Kim 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. [citation needed]
Floris Huet, 41 M 30 January 2019 Saint Rose unknown Huet 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, 13 M 12 April 2015 Cap Homard, Saint-Gilles-les-Bains Zambezi shark Canestri 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, 22 F 15 February 2015 unknown Tiger shark Bishop 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, 15 F 15 July 2013 Le cimetière marin, Saint-Paul unknown Roperth 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, 36 M 8 May 2013 Brisant Beach, Saint-Gillies Gray reef whaler Bearbamel was body boarding when she was attacked. [12]
Alexandre Rassiga, 22 M 23 July 2012 Trois-Bassins unknown Rassiga 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, 38 M 19 September 2011 Boucan-Cannot, Saint-Gilles unknown At 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, 31 M 15 June 2011 Boucan-Cannot, Saint-Gilles-les-Bains unknown Aubert was attacked by an unknown species of shark while boogie boarding. [15]
Sébe Émond, 34 M 20 August 2006 Pointe du Diable, Saint-Pierre Great white shark Émond 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[edit]

Name, age Male Date Location Shark species Details Ref(s)
Guy Oudin, 52 M 11 April 1999 Roche-aux-Oiseaux, L' Etang Salé-les-Bains three Bull sharks Oudin 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]
unknown M 3 January 1999 Off the coast of Saint-Leu Bull shark An unidentified male was killed while spearfishing. [18]
Philippe Blu, 71 M 25 January 1998 Grand'Anse Bull shark Blu was attacked when bathing at a private beach near his home. [19]
unknown unknown 1 January 1998 Beaufonds Bull shark An unidentified person from Paris was killed when attacked by a bull shark near Beaufonds. [20][21]
David Lonne, 20s M 3 January 1997 la Pointe-au-Sel unknown Lonne 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, 25 M 10 January 1996 Embouchure de l'étang de Saint Paul, Saint-Paul Tiger shark Bénèche 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, unknown M 16 September 1996 Saint-Denis unknown Pruneaux was attacked while body boarding. [24]
Thierry Boulay, 24 M 9 July 1995 Barachois, Saint-Denis Bull shark Boulay was attacked by a 10 or 12 foot (3.5 to 4 m) long shark while windsurfing. [25]
unknown unknown 15 April 1994 Lieu-dit Cayenne, Saint-Joseph Bull shark An unidentified person was killed by a bull shark at a popular beach in Saint-Joseph. [26]
Theirry Mercredi, 16 M 28 June 1992 Cap de la Marianne, Saint-Paul Lemon shark or Bull shark Mercredi 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, unknown M 22 May 1992 Lieu-dit Cayenne, Saint, Joseph Tiger shark Nativel was killed by a 11-foot tiger shark. [28]
Bruno Giraud, 30s M 19 July 1989 Temple Tamoule, Sainte-Suzanne unknown Giraud was attacked while surfing. [29]
Jean-Felix Taochyn, 25 M 28 April 1988 Embouchure de l'étang du Gol, Saint-Louis unknown Taochyn was attacked during an aquatic race and was the only death in the events history. [30]
unknown M 1 January 1975 Saint-Denis Great white shark An unidentified Troupes de marine officer on holiday from mainland France was attacked by a great white while swimming. [31]
unknown F 7 December 1972 Basse Vallée, Saint-Philippe Bull shark An 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]
unknown unknown 1 December 1972 Saint-Philippe Great white shark An unidentified person was attacked at a tourist beach in Saint-Philippe. [33]
unknown M 1 January 1918 Barachois, Saint-Denis unknown [34]
unknown M 1 January 1913 Barachois, Saint-Denis unknown An unidentified man was attacked after he jumped into the harbor to retrieve his hat. [35]
unknown M 1 January 1913 Barachois, Saint-Denis unknown An unindentified man was attacked while swimming. Both January 1, 1913 deaths were believed to have caused by the same shark. [36]

Attack demographics[edit]

Percentage of fatal and non-fatal attacks in Reunion

  Fatal attacks (47.3%)
  Non-fatal attacks (52.7%)

Fatalities and attacks by species[edit]

# Species Fatalities # Species Total attacks
1 unknown 11 1 Great white 17
2 Bull 8 2 Bull 14
3 Great white 4 3 unknown 9
4 Tiger 3 4 Tiger 8
5 Lemon 1 5 Lemon 5
6 Mako 3

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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