World Surf League event in New Zealand halted after photographer bitten by sea creature
Consensus Summary
The World Surf League’s New Zealand Pro event was abruptly halted on May 25, 2026, after Australian photographer Ed Sloane was bitten by a sea creature—likely a sea lion—during the men’s semifinal near Raglan. The attack, occurring just before 8:30 AM, prompted a 'code red' alert, forcing the extraction of Brazilian surfers Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira from the water. Sloane suffered minor puncture wounds and was taken to hospital in stable condition, while the event was paused for safety assessments. Organizers, including WSL vice president Renato Hickel, confirmed this was the first time a 'code red' had been issued, referencing the 2015 shark attack on Mick Fanning. The competition was set to resume later in the day, though Dora and Ferreira’s heat was delayed due to their shock from witnessing the incident. Both sources agree on the rarity of such attacks in the region, though minor details—such as the severity of Sloane’s injuries and the exact timing of the event’s resumption—vary slightly.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The World Surf League (WSL) New Zealand Pro event was put on hold after a photographer was bitten by a sea creature during the men’s semi-finals near Raglan, North Island, New Zealand, on May 25, 2026.
- Australian photographer Ed Sloane was bitten and suffered minor puncture wounds, with the attack occurring just before 8:30 AM local time.
- The WSL issued a 'code red' alert, halting the men’s semifinal between Brazilian surfers Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira, who were extracted from the water on jet skis.
- Sloane was taken to hospital in stable condition, with the attack described as likely caused by a sea lion (though not definitively confirmed).
- The event was scheduled to resume after midday (around 1:05 PM local time) for the continuation of Dora and Ferreira’s heat.
- The incident occurred 11 years after Australian surfer Mick Fanning fought off a shark attack during competition at J-Bay, South Africa.
- Renato Hickel, WSL vice president of tours and competition, stated: 'It’s the first time we have activated code red.'
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The photographer had a flipper (likely a sea lion’s) ripped off during the attack, as mentioned in the ABC article but not explicitly stated in the Guardian.
- The event was put on hold until further assessments were made, with organisers prioritizing safety and providing updates as information became available.
- Hundreds of spectators lined Manu Bay to watch the competition, and attacks on surfers/swimmers in the region are described as 'extremely rare.'
- The ABC article explicitly states that the photographer had a 'flipper ripped off' in the attack, which the Guardian does not mention.
- The men’s semifinal was stopped less than 15 minutes into the 35-minute heat, with Dora leading Ferreira 6.33 to 3.00.
- The women’s final was scheduled to feature Hawaiian Carissa Moore against American Sawyer Lindblad, with Australian Morgan Cibilic having advanced earlier.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian mentions the attack occurred 'just before 8:30 AM,' while the ABC does not specify an exact time but aligns with the general timing of the event halt.
Source Articles
World Surf League event in New Zealand put on hold after photographer bitten by ‘shark or a sea lion’
Semi-final interrupted after ‘code red’ activated for first time Photographer in stable condition after being taken to hospital The World Surf League event in New Zealand was abruptly halted on finals day after a photographer was bitten by a sea creature. Australian Ed Sloane was attacked just before 8.30am while documenting the men’s semi-finals at the New Zealand Pro, held near Raglan on the west coast of the North Island. Continue reading...
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