Apr 15, 3:43 AM EDT
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Report: Sea Lion Attacks Teen Surfer*

PERTH, Australia (AP) -- A sea lion leaped out of the sea and attacked a
13-year-old girl as she surfed behind a speedboat off Australia's west
coast, a newspaper reported Sunday.

A marine scientist said the attack by the sea lion, which can grow to
more than 880 pounds in weight but usually stay away from humans, was
bizarre and that the sea lion may have been trying to play with the girl.

Ella Murphy had her jaw broken and lost three teeth after the sea lion
attacked her on Friday as she was being towed on a surfboard behind a
speedboat at Lancelin, a town 80 miles north of the Western Australia
state capital of Perth, The Sunday Times newspaper reported.

"This thing just exploded in a full-on, frontal attack," family friend
Chris Thomas told the newspaper. "It jumped out of the water at her and
hit her head on."

Sydney Aquarium marine scientist Grant Willis said he had never heard of
such an attack before.

"To be out in the water and be attacked like this is just bizarre," he said.

Sea lions can be very territorial, but usually only attack humans when
provoked.

"It might have been like a rag doll toy ... it could have been ... play
for them, just wanting to shake it around," Willis said of the attack.

Murphy was in a stable condition in hospital after having surgery, the
newspaper reported.