Joel Parkinson is on his way back to Australia after injuring his knee just days before the World Surf League event in Fiji.
Parkinson's withdrawal from the Fiji Pro, starting on Sunday, came after the 35-year-old was photographed boarding a helicopter with his right leg in a brace.
The 2012 world champion's spot in the tournament will be taken by American Dusty Payne.
It's the second straight tour event Parkinson has missed after sitting out the Rio Pro in Brazil with a knee strain.
It's believed Parkinson will have the injury assessed upon his return to Australia, in a bid to determine if he'll be fit for next month's J-Bay Open in South Africa.
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Parkinson sits 10th on the world tour rankings going into the Fiji event.
Australian Matt Wilkinson remains the world tour leader after his back-to-back wins in the first two events of the year despite an equal-25th finish in Rio.
