A GOLD Coast professional surfer narrowly escaped with his life in the Philippines after being bashed in the surf by five men before a World Surfing League event.

Brent Symes, 36, of Tweed Heads, was brutally attacked in knee-deep water by locals wielding bats and bottles after he accidentally drifted too close to their surf break on Monday while watching trials ahead of the Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup from the water.

Filipino police yesterday confirmed the five locals were now in custody and facing charges of

attempted murder.

media_camera Gold Coast pro surfer Brent Symes.

“I thought I was going to die,” the father-of-one said yesterday from Siargao.

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“I have been locked inside my room for three full days, scared they’re going to come after me.

“During this attack I was assaulted physically and had my surfboard destroyed and also had many cuts on my feet from defending myself in the water.

“I believe I did nothing wrong and the incident was a misunderstanding by local radicals.”

Mr Symes, known among surfers as “Red Dog”, had been competing in the event and had gone through his first heat.

media_camera Brent Symes in action.

He was watching from his board in a spectator area when he drifted into the competition zone.

“I was granted permission to be a water spectator during the final heat of the trials,” he said.

“During this heat I found myself out of position and caught an inside wave to reposition out of the way of competitors.

“Soon after, hearing something on the PA, I decided to come into shore and exit the break.

“Upon my return to the beach I was mauled by local guys with bats and bottles and had to defend myself until I could safely exit the situation.

“This is attempted murder — I’m in shock.

media_camera An image showing Brent Symes being attacked.

“In all my years of surfing I’ve never experienced this before.”

The WSL yesterday confirmed it was aware of the incident and was in talks with local authorities to determine how the violence unfolded.

Mr Symes, who moved to the Gold Coast from Port Macquarie 12 years ago, was provided with a fulltime security guard after three days so he could safely travel around the city.

The WSL said it was taking precautions against further violence.

“The WSL is aware of an incident regarding one of its competitors involved in an altercation that occurred during the non-sanctioned local trials ahead of our Philippines event,” a WSL spokesman said.

media_camera Another of the images showing Brent Symes being bashed.

“The league is currently in discussion with the athlete, local authorities and event organisers to remedy the situation as safely and as soon as possible.”

Surfing insiders said the WSL would want to be separated from the incident.

The Philippines is a notoriously dangerous country, with recent abductions of three Westerners and a Filipino woman from a southern Philippine resort the latest reminder of long-running security problems that have hounded a region of stark poverty.

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