India, March 27 -- A surfer in California was left traumatised after being attacked by a sea lion, which experts believe was under the influence of a toxic algae bloom spreading along the coast.

Photographer and explorer Rj LaMendola shared details of the terrifying encounter in a Facebook post, describing it as the most frightening experience of his two decades of surfing.

"Today, I endured the most harrowing and traumatic experience of my 20 years of surfing," LaMendola wrote in his post.

The incident took place at Oxnard State Beach Park, where LaMendola was surfing about 150 yards from the shore. According to him, the sea lion appeared suddenly and charged at him with alarming speed.

"Out of nowhere, the mammal erupted from the wa...