Croc sighting brings halt to surfing event

A crocodile sighting has brought an abrupt halt to the World Surf League event in Costa Rica on Friday.

Australian surfer Ethan Ewing was participating in the first heat of round five when one of his opponents, Brazilian Tales Rodrigues, spotted the crocodile.

The lifeguards patrolling the waters on jetskis sprang into action and circled around Rodrigues to ward off the crocodile as the surfers made their way back to shore.

No-one was physically harmed, and WSL officials have congratulated Rodrigues for alerting officials.

"Rodrigues' quick actions to make the water safety aware was amazing and the water safety team's rapid response was truly commendable," WSL North America tour manager Brian Robbins said.

The safety of our athletes is of the highest priority for the WSL and the decision was made to call the contest off for the day immediately."

Rodrigues says he was shaken after the event, which he called "terrifying."

"I ended my wave and was paddling back strongly when I saw the turbulence in the water," Rodrigues said.

"It was about the size of my surfboard. I have no words to describe what I'm feeling right now, it was truly terrifying."

In July last year, Australian surfer Mick Fanning famously punched a shark in the nose to fight it off as it tried to grab him during an event in South Africa.