Surfers 'attack' beach paparazzo

Beach shots of McConaughey often appear in tabloids

A paparazzo trying to take beach photos of US actor Matthew McConaughey has told police he was injured when a group of surfers threw his camera in the sea.

The photographer, 29, said the large group demanded that he and other paparazzi stop taking pictures.

"There was apparently a fight, and the photographer gave a statement that he received injuries," Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman said on Sunday.

Detectives said McConaughey was not involved in the attack.

They are investigating the incident, which took place near Paradise Cove, Malibu. The actor's publicist was not immediately available for comment.

His most recent film, romantic adventure Fool's Gold co-starring Kate Hudson, topped the US box office on its February debut.

McConaughey has also appeared in Steven Spielberg's slave-trading epic Amistad in 1997 and 2001's The Wedding Planner, co-starring Jennifer Lopez.