Elio Canestri was a 13-year-old surfing champion when he went to the French holiday island of Reunion. A skilled surfer, Elio was used to the strong waves but did not expect a shark attack and was bitten in the stomach and had his limbs torn off in a shark attack as he surfed in an area off limits to people because of its known dangers. So vicious was the attack that several witnesses, including other children, had to be treated for trauma.