Photographer Bitten by Sea Creature During Surf Competition Finals

During the finals of a World Surf League (WSL) competition in New Zealand, Australian photographer Ed Sloane was bitten by an unidentified sea creature, possibly a shark or sea lion, while filming the men's semi-finals on Sunday. Sloane suffered puncture wounds to his ankle and had one flipper ripped off; he was taken to hospital by ambulance and is reported to be in stable condition and good spirits. The incident triggered a code red emergency protocol, typically reserved for shark sightings, causing a several-hour pause in the event. Surfers from Brazil already in the water were evacuated via jet skis. WSL vice-president Renato Hickel confirmed during the live broadcast that this was the first time the code red was activated for an attack on a photographer rather than a surfer. The attending doctor speculated the attacker was a sea lion rather than a shark. Sloane described the event as "nightmare fuel" on Instagram, thanking medical staff and those who provided support. According to news.com.au, sea lions in New Zealand can be aggressive when they feel threatened, though marine life encounters are rare.