World Surf League Raglan: Italo Ferreira recalls mid-heat wildlife attack on photographer
Italo Ferreira is well aware of the risks that come with his job.
Sitting in the lineup at Raglan’s Manu Bay in his semi-final against fellow Brazilian Yago Dora on Monday morning, Ferreira’s attention was pulled towards the World Surf League’s in-water photographer Ed Sloane.
Sloane was set up a bit further down the break, in position to get unique angles of the action, but about halfway into the heat he was bitten on the foot by an unidentified animal.
“I just heard the photographer screaming, like ‘help, help’,” Ferreira told the Herald.
“I tried to point [at] him to the ski to help him. Then Yago was looking at me like ‘what happened?’ and I was like ‘I don’t know, maybe he got attacked or something’ because he was screaming ‘help’ so hard. I’m so glad that he is okay.
“It happens. We’re in the ocean. It’s not our home, we just visit there. It’s part of our life. You never know, but I’m so glad everything’s okay.”
The heat was stopped, with Sloane and the two surfers removed from the water. The photographer was taken to hospital for treatment on lacerations on his left foot.
The photographer shared a statement via the WSL broadcast noting he was okay and thanking those involved in the response, and posted an image of his wounds on social media on Monday night.
With the heat on hold, the league decided to delay competition for four hours as the afternoon tide promised quality waves.
Ferreira went to his accommodation, had a nap and drank a coffee before returning to the event site to lock back into his competitive mindset. Once the heat got back into the water, the 32-year-old former world champion showed his class.
Ferreira went on to win the competition, beating Dora and then Australian Morgan Cibilic in the final, to claim his first event victory of the season and move to world No 1, which ensures he will wear the yellow jersey at the championship tour’s next event in El Salvador.
His 17.5 heat total in the final matched the highest of the men’s competition, with Dora also hitting that mark in his quarter-final win over Cole Houshmand.
One of the most popular surfers among the fans, Ferreira said he felt and appreciated all the energy from his supporters.
“It’s been so special, especially with the local guys. The energy is incredible ... the energy and the love, it’s special for the sport, for the surfing community,” Ferreira said.
“I thought, ‘okay, let’s save this energy and make it happen’.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.