Third shark attack off Reunion Island this year

    

Yesterday at around three pm, a 47-year-old man named Eddy Chaussalet was surfing with bodyboarders at a break called la Follette, on Reunion Island, when he was attacked by a shark.

He was given first aid by firefighters and doctors at the scene, and was then sent to the Saint-Denis University Hospital. His arm was badly wounded, but authorities have said that he is not expected to have to amputate, and he will make a full recovery.

Eddy is a well known Reunion surfer who competes in local competitions regularly and is a familiar face in the line-up at la Follette. The break is one of Reunion Island's top ranking big wave spots.

Since 2011, this is the 17th shark attack in the island's waters, and the third this year (the first was a woman who died of cardiac arrest after being attacked, and the second a promising young teen surfer who died from bull shark wounds).

Our thoughts go out to Eddy, his family and friends, as well as the locals of Reunion Island.