A teenage girl was sliced in two by a shark while snorkelling near the beach on a paradise island in the Indian Ocean, it has been reported.
The 15-year-old was less than15 feet from the shore of the island of Reunion, located off the coast of Madagascar, when she was killed.
"The teenager's body was sliced in two at the torso, and then a part of her body was taken away by the shark," said Gina Hoarau, the head of public safety on the island.
The girl's terrified sister was among those who saw the schoolgirl disappear under the water.
Local mayor Huguette Bello said: "The girl, who was 15, came from mainland France and spent her holidays on the island.
"She was staying on the island with her father, who is in charge of the yacht club in St Paul.
"Both of the girls had masks and snorkels on, and were swimming just in front of the Bay restaurant."
Mr Bello said it was the first time 'in a long time' that a shark had attacked swimmers so close to the beach.
There have been recent attacks on surfers, but it is highly unusual for sharks to come so close to the water's edge.