A water photographer has been bitten by a shark or seal, sending him to hospital and sparking a red alert at the New Zealand Pro World Surf League event.
Australian Ed Sloane had puncture wounds to an ankle and had a flipper ripped off in the attack and it remained unclear on Monday afternoon which sea creature was responsible.
The wounds are minor and Sloane was in good spirits.
A code red was called immediately after the attack and the men's semi-final between Brazilians Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira was put on hold for a couple of hours
The incident comes 11 years after Australian great Mick Fanning fought off a shark in his final at the South African J-Bay Pro.
