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The finals day of the World Surf League’s New Zealand Pro event was paused after a photographer was attacked in the water by a sea creature that organisers believe was a shark or sea lion.<\/b><\/p>\n
The incident happened as Brazilian surfers Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira competed in the men’s semi-finals in Raglan on the North Island.<\/p>\n
A ‘code red’ was activated with the event put on hold on <\/b>Monday while medical teams responded.<\/p>\n
Renato Hickel, World Surf League vice-president of tours and competition, said the photographer, Australian Ed Sloane, had “small puncture wounds” and was taken to hospital by ambulance.<\/p>\n
“We activate the code red when it’s a sea life attack on a surfer or a photographer. This time it was our beloved water photographer and thank God he’s in good spirits. He’s well considering what happened,” Hickel said on the WSL broadcast.<\/p>\n
He added: “At this stage we’re not certain if it was a shark or a sea lion. The doctor that was here helping on the scene was inclined to think it was a sea lion instead of a shark.<\/p>\n
“Nevertheless very scary. Italo and Yago were very shaken. They saw the splash and the incident, so another reason to put the event on hold.<\/p>\n
Sloane thanked the medical team and the WSL water patrol for their “immediate assistance” in a statement shared by the surf league. <\/p>\n
“I am doing okay, I’ve had bites to my left foot and am getting medical attention,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I love this place and can’t wait to watch an epic Finals Day,” he added. “Cheering for everyone for a great finish to the event.”<\/p>\n
The event got back under way after several hours with safety measures including additional jet skis and a drone spotter to monitor the water. <\/p>\n
It remains unclear what bit Sloane. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n