Competition was halted on the final day of the World Surf League's New Zealand Pro at Raglan after a photographer was bitten on the left foot by unidentified sea life.
WSL tours and competition vice president Renato Hickel confirmed photographer Ed Sloane had been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
"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 has small puncture wounds and he’s already in the ambulance on his way to hospital. We’ve put the event on hold and we’re going into a low tide so the next call we’re going to assess when to resume this heat between Yago and Italo will be at 12 noon for a possible 12.35pm start."
The event restarted shortly after 1pm.
Sloane later provided a statement to the World Surf League to thank those who had come to his aid.
"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 wrote, adding he was receiving medical attention and doing okay.
Hickel said he was unsure whether the animal involved was a sea lion or a shark, though he added the doctor was " inclined to think it was a sea lion instead of a shark".
Hickel said there would be full surveillance for wildlife, including jetskis, drones, and spotters.
"The surf is absolutely pumping," he said.
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