A men’s surfing event in New Zealand had to be halted due to a shocking incident that saw a photographer bitten by a mystery sea creature.
The men’s semi-final of the New Zealand Pro had to be put on hold as organisers sounded a code red alert after Australian Ed Sloane was attacked on Monday morning at Raglan Bay on the country’s North Island.
Footage of the incident shows Sloane splashing just off the beach, which drew the organisers’ attention and resulted in a jet ski being sent out to help.
Reports from a local paramedic claim the veteran snapper was bitten on his ankle and had a flipper ripped off in the attack.
Sloane was taken to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition, according to reports.
Organisers suspect a seal, rather than a shark, was responsible for Sloane’s injuries, but there has been no official confirmation.
Pictured: Photographer Ed Sloane’s splashing (circled) during the attack on Monday at the New Zealand Pro surfing competition
A code red alarm was sounded after the attack, which forced the postponement of the semi-final between Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira (pictured being picked up after the incident)
The code red saw the semi-final between Brazilians Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira being postponed.
‘It was our beloved water photographer, Ed,’ World Surf League commissioner Renato Hickel said.
‘Thank God, he’s in good spirits, he’s well considering what happened, minor, small puncture wounds.
‘He’s already in an ambulance, on his way to hospital.
‘We’re not certain if it was a shark or a sea lion. The doctor who is helping here on the scene is inclined to think it was a sea lion … nevertheless, very scary.
‘Italo and Yago obviously are shaken. They saw the splash and the incident and so another reason to put the event on hold.’
The Victorian is a long-time World Surfing League photographer and boasts more than 20,000 followers on Instagram.
If the incident is confirmed to be a shark attack, it would be the first in the area since 2006.
The attack comes 11 years after Australian great Mick Fanning fought off a shark in his final at the South African J-Bay Pro.
