Surfing-'Wildlife injury' for photographer halts New Zealand Pro

The New Zealand Pro semi-final between Brazilian world champions Yago Dora and Italo ‌Ferreira at Raglan was halted after the in-water photographer suffered puncture wounds and needed medical attention, the WSL said. "This morning one of the water photography team suffered a wildlife injury," said WSL deputy commissioner Renato Hinkle.

A photographer shooting a World Surf League event in New ​Zealand was injured by what organisers suspect ​was a sea lion or shark ‌bite on ​Monday, forcing the event to be put on hold for several hours. The New Zealand Pro semi-final between Brazilian world champions Yago Dora and Italo ‌Ferreira at Raglan was halted after the in-water photographer suffered puncture wounds and needed medical attention, the WSL said.

"This morning one of the water photography team suffered a wildlife injury," said WSL deputy commissioner Renato Hinkle. "He's okay, ‌he's on his way to a hospital. We are in constant communication with him, he's in ‌a stable condition." Hinkle earlier told the event broadcast they were unsure what kind of animal had caused the injury.

"At this stage we’re not certain if it was a shark or a sea lion. The doctor that was here helping on the scene was ⁠inclined ​to think it was a ⁠sea lion instead of a shark," he said. "Nevertheless, very scary." Organisers will review the situation later on Monday, aiming to restart competition ⁠at 1:00 p.m. (0100 GMT).

Wildlife attacks during surf events are rare but not unprecedented. World champion Mick Fanning famously tussled with ​a shark during the final of a WSL event at South Africa's Jeffreys Bay in 2015. Hosting ⁠a full world championship tour competition for the first time, Raglan's famously long left-hand point break waves were in short supply for ⁠most ​of the first 10 days of the event and Monday's conditions were among the best of the entire waiting period.

Dora, who scored the first perfect 10-point ride of the season in his quarter-final ⁠on Sunday, was leading with a 6.33 ride to Ferreira's 3-pointer before their clash was halted. Earlier, Australian Morgan ⁠Cibilic overcame California's Griffin ⁠Colapinto with a two-wave total of 15.34 to 12.20 to claim a spot in the finals.

Hawaii's Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion Carissa Moore will take ‌on California's ‌Sawyer Lindblad in the women's final.