An Aussie snapper has been rushed to hospital after he was attacked on the sidelines of the World Surf League’s New Zealand Pro competition.

A famous pro surfing competitionground to a halt after an Aussie photographer was attacked by sea life.

Victorian snapper Ed Sloane was taking shots of surfers in the water when he was bitten on the ankle during the World Surf League’s New Zealand Pro competition, according to Swellnet.

Officials blew the horn and stopped the competition after noticing Sloane splashing in the water.

Renato Hickel, vice president of tour and competition for the World Surf League, said the snapper was on his way to hospital with “minor puncture’’ marks.

The tournament was brought to a standstill when Mr Hickel announced a “code red” incident during a live broadcast from the event in Raglan, in New Zealand’s North Island.

“It was a shark or a sea lion – the doctor seems to think it was a sea lion,” the surfing boss said.

“It was the first time we have activated a code red when it’s a sea life attacking a photographer.”

A snapper was attacked by sea life. Picture: WSL
The competition was set to resume at 12.30pm NZ time. The attack took place during the second semi-final between the Brazilian duo Italo Ferriera and Yago Dora on Monday morning.

The surfers were immediately taken out of the water on jet skis.

While incidents with marine life are rare in New Zealand, sea lions have been known to act aggressively towards surfers when they their territory is being threatened, according to The Adventure website.

It comes as a man died following a horror shark attack in Far North Queensland.

The 39-year-old was rushed by boat to the Hull River Heads boat ramp near Tully Heads — about 120km south of Cairns — where paramedics were waiting from him around 12pm on Sunday.

The Victorian photographer was rushed to hospital. Picture: WSL
However, he died from his injuries soon after.

A police spokesperson said the man had been attacked by a shark while out at Kennedy Shoal.

“The man was retrieved from the water and died from his injuries,” the spokesperson said.

A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson earlier said paramedics had been called ahead to meet the injured man at the ramp.

The fatal attack comes just a week after father of two Steven ‘Mattas’ Mattaboni was killed by a great white shark near Rottnest Island off the Western Australia coast.