Competitor dies in Murray River waterskiing race

The death of a man competing in the Southern 80 waterski race on the Murray River prompted the race to be suspended and then cancelled while also raising questions about the safety of the event.

Emergency services were called to the river near Moama on the Victoria-NSW border at about 10am on Sunday, after reports of competitor suffering serious injury suffered while skiing the injury.

However, he was declared dead at the scene.

The death was the sixth fatal accident at the Southern 80 waterski race since 2006.

The event takes place on the Murray River from Torrumbarry to Echuca, where the river has more than 120 bends.

NSW Police will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, with Chief Inspector Paul Huggett describing the incident as an “absolute tragedy”.

Chief Inspector Huggett told reporters at the scene “it affects the whole community, from emergency services to the bloke that owns the fish and chip shop.

“This will affect the community for months to come ... it’s an absolute tragedy.”

Moama Water Sports Club President Steve Shipp said the man, who was on a competing team, fell and could not be revived, stating “the club is co-operating with NSW Police and Transport for NSW-Maritime, in their investigation into the incident.

“As a ski racing family, we are here to support the affected family and team members as well the wider ski racing community in this terribly sad time.”

Earlier, ambulance officers had been called to the same event to treat a man in his 40s with leg injuries. He was taken to Echuca hospital in a stable condition.

The race attracts entries from all over Australia, plus international competitors from New Zealand, the UK and the USA, according to the event’s website.

However, it has suffered from a series of fatal accidents.

Sydney competitor David Perrotto died in 2006 while being towed at high speed during practice for the event. A boat collision claimed the life of Craig O’Toole in 2007.

Victorian racer Tim Driver died after colliding with another competitor in 2010 while in 2016, Kevin Vahtrick, died after falling into the water during qualifying races.

A year later, NSW driver David Morabito was pulled unconscious from the river and died after the ski boat he was driving flipped during a high-speed race.

Image: The Southern 80 waterski event. Credit: Facebook/Trent Clarke Photography.