Australia’s four-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore suffered a broken wrist and cuts to her head after being beaten with an iron bar during an attack overnight, reports said yesterday.

Police did not name the 22-year-old woman they said was assaulted as she walked towards her apartment in the northern New South Wales town of Tweed Heads on Monday evening.

But her father Jeff Gilmore spoke to the media, telling Channel Nine that she was shaken but recovering from the incident.

“She’s just doing well. She’s going to get through this alright,” he said.

The reigning world surfing champion was attacked as she walked into the stairwell of her apartment building after parking her car in the underground parking lot.

Police said the alleged attacker was arrested when he returned to the apartment building and was recognised by friends and neighbours who held him until police arrived.

He has been charged with several offences including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, police said. He was refused bail at a court appearance yesterday and will appear again next month.

Gilmore, the first male or female surfer to win the world title in their rookie year, won a historic third straight triple crown in Hawaii this year.