Moroccan surfer Ramzi Boukhiam had to be helped from the water after an incident at Bells Beach

Moroccan surfer Ramzi Boukhiam had to be helped from the water by fellow competitions including Australian Xavier Huxtable and left the beach in a medical after wrenching his knee as he walked to shore when the men’s heats finally got going at Bells Beach.

Surfing in the sixth heat at the Easter classic, Boukhiam was making his way back to the beach over some rocks when he was wiped out by a wave.

He immediately grabbed at his knee, writhing in pain, and had to be helped from the water before sitting on the beach as he waited some medical treatment.

Eventually Boukhiam, who was last in his heat and sits outside the mid-season cut line, was escorted from the beach in the medical before limping, on crutches, into the medical suite high above the sand.

The incident came as surfing resumed for the first time since Good Friday when only the women’s opening round and one heat of the men’s first round were run.

With better conditions on hand, Australian guns Robinson and Morgan Cibilic both won their heats to progress to the round of 32 with Huxtable also progressing as surfing continued.

It was hoped the full round of men’s heats, and the women;s elimination rounds could be completed on Tuesday. ,