Raglan, New Zealand: A World Surf League New Zealand Pro event was abruptly suspended on finals day after a water photographer was bitten by an unidentified sea creature during the competition near Raglan on the North Island’s west coast.
Australian photographer Ed Sloane was attacked shortly before 8:30 am while covering the men’s semi-finals at Manu Bay. Sloane suffered puncture wounds to his ankle and lost one of his flippers during the incident, though authorities said his injuries were minor.
The exact animal responsible for the attack remained unclear, with officials unable to confirm whether it was caused by a shark or a sea lion. The competition was stopped around 10 minutes into the semi-final heat, and Brazilian surfers Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira were quickly removed from the water by jet ski as a precaution.
Renato Hickel said the organisation had activated a ‘code red’ emergency response for the first time. “This time it was our beloved water photographer Ed. Thank God he’s in good spirits. He’s well considering what happened,” Hickel said during the broadcast.
Hickel added that Sloane was taken to hospital after sustaining minor puncture wounds from the bite. “At this stage we are not certain if it was a shark or a sea lion – the doctor on the scene was inclined to think it was a sea lion – nevertheless, very scary,” Hickel said.
In a statement, Sloane thanked the water patrol, medical teams, and support crews for their quick response and confirmed he was receiving medical treatment for bites to his left foot. “I’m doing OK,” he said, adding that he hoped to watch the remainder of the finals and support the competitors.
The World Surf League noted that the event was temporarily placed on hold while further safety assessments were carried out. “The safety of our staff and competitors are our priority, and we will provide updates as further information becomes available,” the organisation noted.
Officials later considered resuming the semi-final heat between Dora and Ferreira later in the day, although Hickel noted both surfers were visibly shaken after witnessing the incident.
The incident drew comparisons to the 2015 shark attack involving Australian surfing legend Mick Fanning during a competition in South Africa, which was broadcast live worldwide.
The World Surf League New Zealand Pro is regarded as the country’s biggest surfing event, attracting hundreds of spectators to Manu Bay. Sea creature attacks on surfers and swimmers in the region are considered extremely rare.
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