Surf Competition Postponed After Photographer Attacked By Mysterious Sea Creature
Officials from World Surf League’s New Zealand Pro event postponed the finals day after a photographer was attacked by an unspecified sea creature.
A “code red” was declared as Brazilian surfers Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira competed in the men’s semi-finals in Raglan on the North Island after Australian photographer Ed Sloane was bitten by something in the water. Sloane suffered small puncture wounds and was transported to a local hospital.
“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.” -Renato Hickel
It is unclear whether Sloane was bitten by a sea lion or a shark. The finals resumed after several hours with safety measures including additional jet skis patrolling the area and a overhead drone to spot potential threats in the water.
World Surf League Official Statement:
Men’s Semifinal 2 was put on hold after a member of our photography team suffered a wildlife injury in the water while photographing the heat. Event medical teams responded immediately, and the individual is in stable condition and received on-site medical attention before being transported to the hospital.
Our safety measures include additional jet skis to monitor the lineup and a drone spotter. The safety of our surfers and staff remains our top priority. We’ve closely monitored the situation, confirmed the area is clear, and discussed with the competitors, and we’ll resume competition at 1:05 p.m. NZST with Men’s Semifinal 2 with 21 minutes remaining in the heat. The women’s and men’s Finals will follow with 40-minute heats.
Today, at 8:26 a.m., a member of our photography team suffered a wildlife injury in the water while photographing the men’s Semifinals. Event medical teams responded immediately, and the individual is in stable condition and received on-site medical attention before being transported to the hospital. Their safety, and the safety of our staff and competitors, are our priority, and we will provide updates as further information becomes available. The competition is on hold, and the next call will be at 12:00 p.m. NZST for a possible 12:35 p.m. start.
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