Expertise médicolégale des victimes d'attaques et de morsures de requins à la Réunion

The average age of the victims was 28.3-years-old (sex ratio: 3.5). Six cases among 9 occurred during surface nautical activity. The lesions were located in lower limbs in 5 cases, upper limbs in 4 cases and trunk in 2 cases. All with multiple punctures. Arterial lesions have been found each time, causing haemorrhagic shock in 6 cases and death in 4 cases, always very rapid because of the cuttings of a large calibre artery with a significant loss of substance. The worst vascular injury always corresponded to femoral wounds. The involved shark species had always been identified. The aim of the forensic examination of victims of those shark maulings is to confirm the nature and origin of the bites, determine the prognosis of the lesions, and then determine the species and size of the animal responsible. In some cases, its target is to assess the vitality of the lesions. This approach, of which final goal is the implementation of appropriate preventive measures, requires forensic and ichtyological skills.