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ONE man is dead and four others have been injured after accidents at the Southern 80 ski race on the Murray River.
Racing was suspended after three seperate incidents this afternoon.
NSW Police have confirmed a man has died after an accident at the boating event.
Another man in his 20s was flown to the Royal Melbourne hospital with head and spinal injuries.
He remains in a serious but stable condition.
A woman, also in her 20s, was flown to Bendigo with a neck injury and was in a stable condition.
Two other men were taken to Echuca hospital — a man in his 40s is in a stable condition with rib and shoulder injuries and a man in his 20s is in a serious but stable condition with head and neck injuries.
The drama happened shortly after 1pm when a male water skier came off his skis and hit a buoy near Echuca while another skier was injured at Torrumbarry.
A boat also flipped at Horseshoe Bend, killing one person in the boat and injuring another.
A skiier being towed was also injured.
Ski Racing Australia spokesman Dave Lyall said three incidents occurred during this afternoon’s racing at the Southern 80 along the Murray River with several participants requiring attention from ambulance officers.
“SRA and the Moama Water Sports Club are, and will continue, to work with race organisers and relevant authorities to ensure those who require it receive appropriate care,” Mr Lyall said.
Campaspe Mayor Adrian Weston said it was too early to speculate on the race’s future.
“I do know in the past two or three years the Moama Water Sports Club have done a lot of work reviewing its safety management,” Cr Weston said.
“It’s a difficult one because it’s one of our premier events generating about $20 million each year so it is very important economically.
“Some people would call it an extreme sport and in any extreme sport it is very difficult to eliminate all risk.
“I’m sure once we are aware of all the facts the council will sit down and discuss it.”
The Southern 80, which sees teams of two skiers travel down the 80km course at speeds of up to 170km/h, has had a chequered accident history with five deaths since 2006.
Previous fatalities were recorded at the event, staged at Echuca/Moama, in 2016, 2010, 2007 and 2006.
A 47-year-old man from New South Wales lost his life during a qualifying session during last year’s event.
A 43-year-old man died in 2010 on the banks of the river at Echuca after he fell during a tandem race.
In 2007, a Rochester man died after a high-speed boat crash on the weekend of the Southern 80.
The boats were travelling in opposite directions when they collided and five people were injured.
In 2006, a Sydney man died after he lost control on a hairpin bend and hit the water about 15 metres from the bank.
It was the first fatality in the race for 32 years.
The Southern 80 is a ski race that occurs on the Murray river at Echuca/Moama on the second Sunday in February each year.
Teams of two skiers travel down the 80km course over 126 bends in speeds of more than 100km per hour.
About 100,000 people watch the race each year, generating millions of tourism dollars in the Echuca region.
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