The St John spokesperson said the animal was no longer at the scene.
Photo: AFP / Biosphoto / Minden Pictures / Colin Monteath / Hedgehog House
A person was been taken to hospital after being bitten by a sea lion at Dunedin’s Brighton beach on Friday afternoon.
A Hato Hone St John spokesperson confirmed they responded to reports of a sea lion bite just before 1:30pm, and took one person to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries.
The spokesperson said the animal was no longer at the scene.
Fire and Emergency also attended to assist ambulance staff.
The Otago Daily Times has reported the injured man was a surfer, who was bitten while in the water.
A Department of Conservation spokesperson said people should stay at least 20 metres away from seals and sea lions on land.
In the sea, the mammals were curious and could sometimes investigate people, but it was extremely uncommon for interactions to be anything other than gentle, he said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.