Finals day at the New Zealand surfing competition was placed n hold following a wildlife attack in the water. At 8:26 a.m. today, a member of the World Surf League (WSL) photography team sustained injuries while capturing the men’s Semifinals.
A ‘code red’ was activated with the event put on hold while medical teams responded, and this is the first time in competition history the code has been activated.
While the exact animal involved in the attack remains officially unconfirmed, initial reports suggest a sea lion or fur seal may be responsible but others on the internet are suggesting a shark.
New Zealand Final – Competition Status
The WSL has now resumed competition, issuing the following statement after lengthy hold.
“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.”
Medical Response and Condition
Event medical teams provided immediate on-site attention to the photographer, who suffered minor puncture wounds in the incident. The individual is currently in a stable condition and has been transported to hospital for further evaluation and care and is in communication with the WSL.
