A SURFER has died on the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion after a shark bit off his leg, officials said.

Fellow surfers were able to haul Alexandre Rassica, a 22-year-old local, back to the beach at Trois-Bassins on the west of the island after the attack.

But when paramedics arrived he was in a state of cardiac arrest, officials said.

La Reunion, a popular tourist destination, last year saw six shark attacks on humans, two of them deadly.

Sad news. RIP and condolences to all friends and family. 22 is too young to be leaving this world.

Jeremy Flores tweeted he'd been surfing at the spot that the attack happened for the 10 days prior. That's some very picky shark. Had Jeremy been been killed, the shark debate would have exploded further worldwide than it already has through the media (IMO). RIP to the victim.

Vale RIP