bitten

May 25 (UPI) — A World Surfing League event was temporarily suspended on Monday after a photographer in the water suffered an animal bite to his foot.

The photographer, identified as Australian Ed Sloane, suffered what WSL described in a statement as “a wildlife injury” Monday morning while photographing a surfing heat from the waters near Raglan in northwestern New Zealand.

WSL Commissioner Renato Hickel said in an Instagram story that Sloane was transported to a hospital in stable condition. In an update, Hickel said Sloane was in “great spirits” and that following consultations with the competing surfers and other stakeholders, it was decided that the competition would restart at 1:05 p.m. NZST.

In the event broadcast, streamed live on YouTube, Hickel said WSL activated what he called a code red, halting the heat and clearing the water.

“He’s well considering what happened,” he said, describing the injury as “minor, small puncture wounds.”

He added that officials were unsure if the animal responsible was a shark or sea lion, though they were inclined to think it was a sea lion.

“Nevertheless, very scary,” he said.

Sloane said in a written statement read during WSL’s broadcast and later published to WSL’s Instagram story, that he was bitten on the foot and was receiving medical attention.

“Massive thank you to our water patrol for the quick response, our medical team and all the support from our teams for the immediate assistance I received,” he said.

“I love this place and can’t wait to watch an epic Finals Day.”

Sloane was shooting the final day of the New Zealand Pro.

Hickel said heightened wildlife surveillance, including jet skis, drones and spotters, would be put in place when the competition resumed.

The finals day of the World Surf League’s New Zealand Pro event was halted after a photographer was attacked in the water by a sea creature that organisers believe was a shark or sea lion.

The incident happened as Brazilian surfers Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira competed in the men’s semi-finals in Raglan on the North Island.

A ‘code red’ was activated with the event put on hold while medical teams responded.

Renato Hickel, World Surf League vice-president of tours and competition, said the photographer had “small puncture wounds” and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

“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.

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.

“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.

“Hopefully we can wrap the event today.”