There are also unconfirmed reports of up to three other people injured.
“Unfortunately, during this morning’s events at the 2024 Southern 80 water ski race, there was an incident involving one of our competing teams where a skier fell and could not be revived at the scene,” Moama Water Sports Club president Steve Shipp said in a statement.
“Racing was immediately suspended and has since been cancelled.
“The club is cooperating 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 as the wider ski racing community in this terribly sad time.”
According to an eyewitness account from a nurse, the skier went into the water near Arnold Bend in Wharparilla and was fatally wounded.
The nurse at the Arnold Bend Camping Area said she believed the incident occurred when a boat driver tried to move away from another racing boat that got too close to them.
She said the other skier immediately raised their arm to signal that someone was in the water, but by the time their boat was able to turn around, it was too late.
The witness rushed down to the scene of the incident, but was told that the man had no pulse.
NSW Police confirmed there had been a death, stating they had responded to the incident only an hour after racing kicked off.
“About 10am today, emergency services were called to the Murray River near Perricoota Road, Moama, following reports a man had been seriously injured while skiing on the water.
“On arrival, paramedics from Victoria Ambulance located a man who had died at the scene; he is yet to be formally identified.
“Officers attached to Murray River Police District have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said responders attended two other separate incidents.
“We went to Torrumbarry at 9.42am, where a man in his 20s with a leg injury was taken to Echuca Hospital in a stable condition,” he said.
The spokesman said there was another incident at Wharparilla at roughly the same time, however, the matter is now being dealt with by police.
The race was red-flagged after the incident at about 10am on Sunday morning and racing cancelled for the rest of the day.
The death is the seventh fatality in the event since 1987, and the first since 2017.
The Southern 80 Ski Race covers 126 bends between Torrumbarry Weir and Victoria Park Boat Ramp in Echuca, with teams consisting of a driver, observer and two skiers.
Boats can travel at speeds close to 200km/h in the event.
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