A World Surf League competition in New Zealand was abruptly halted after an Australian photographer covering the event was attacked by an unidentified sea creature. The incident occurred during the men's semi-finals at Manu Bay, just before 8:30 am on Monday.
Attack Details
Photographer Ed Sloane sustained puncture wounds to his ankle during the attack. A 'code red' alert was immediately issued, leading to the extraction of competing Brazilian surfers from the water via jet skis. The competition was paused 10 minutes after it started but was scheduled to resume at noon.
Speculation on the Attacker
The exact identity of the sea creature remains unconfirmed, with speculation ranging from a shark to a sea lion. However, the on-scene doctor suggested the injury was consistent with a sea lion bite. Mr Sloane confirmed he was 'doing okay' and receiving medical attention, expressing gratitude for the swift response from water patrol and medical teams.
The incident is reminiscent of Mick Fanning's shark encounter 11 years prior, which also occurred during a surfing competition. The World Surf League has not yet commented on further safety measures or rescheduling of the event.
