Reunion shark attack: 13-year-old boy dies after shark bites his arms and legs off

Child was surfing in off-limits area

Swimming had previously been prohibited on Saint-Leu de La Réunion beach (RICHARD BOUHET/AFP/Getty Images)

A 13-year-old boy was killed by a shark while surfing off the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean.

He was surfing in an off-limits area when the shark attacked him and bit off his arms, legs and a section of his stomach.

Rescuers arrived at the scene quickly, but the severity of the injuries meant he could not be saved.

This was the island's seventh shark-related death since 2011 – although there have been 16 attacks in area in this timeframe.

A surfer rides a wave off Reunion (AFP PHOTO/AFP/Getty Images)

The tourist Island of Reunion has seen a rise in numbers of shark attacks in recent years.

Following a non-fatal shark attack in February, Island authorities had banned all water activities outside selected areas.