According to Australian media the sea lion leapt from the sea 'like a great white shark' as the 13-year-old surfed on tow behind a speedboat off Lancelin, 80 miles north of Western Australia capital Perth.
The boat's helmsman is reported to have said: 'This thing just exploded in a full-on, frontal attack. It jumped out of the water at her and hit her head on.'
The girl suffered a broken jaw and lost three teeth. Hospitalised, she was later described as in a stable condition.
A Sydney Aquarium scientist said he had never heard of such an incident. Normally sea lions avoid contact with humans, attacking only if cornered and provoked.
One theory, said the scientist, was that the creature may have been trying to play rather than assault.
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