One Dead After Boating Mishap

[mrmoshe]

One dead after boating mishap

One man has died and another is in hospital after a boating accident on Sydney Harbour this morning.

NSW Police say the body of a man has been retrieved from the wreckage of the vessel but he's not yet been identified.

About 9.15am (AEDT) today a passing ferry noticed a capsized speedboat near Balls Head Point on the north west side of the Harbour Bridge, a NSW Police spokesman told AAP.

One man was rescued from the water and was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital suffering serious head and leg injuries, the NSW Ambulance Service said.

Police could not confirm that the boat was involved in this weekend's inaugural Superboat Grand Prix.

[caine]

Police could not confirm that the boat was involved in this weekend's inaugural Superboat Grand Prix.

Sure looks like it!!!

[Flightmanager]

As a result , Saturdays racing has been cancelled .

Ross

[mrmoshe]

The man killed in a speedboat crash on Sydney Harbour today was "on his way'' to participate in the Superboat Grand Prix, the event's spokesman has confirmed.

The boat, 23-foot Bernico, was also believed to have been speeding illegally on the harbour when the crash occurred, Offshore Racing Council member Bill Barry-Cotter has told AAP.

"It was one of the smaller boats and he was on his way to the event to enter when it happened, he was coming here to be briefed,'' Mr Barry-Cotter told AAP today.

"Everyone here is under the control of the race and there is no speeding in the harbour, it is as simple as that.

"He was, obviously, unaware that he was not supposed to be doing that but if he had got to the event he would have found out.

"It's very, very sad.''

A ferry discovered the capsized vessel about about 9.15am (AEDT) today near Balls Head Point, on the north-west side of the Harbour Bridge.

Rescuers found the body of a man beneath the upturned hull of the vessel while another 45-year-old man was rescued from the water, and was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) suffering serious head and leg injuries.

Mr Barry-Cotter said a vote was taken at this morning's event briefing, when competitors opted to cancel today's race events as a mark of respect.

The competitors also voted the high-powered racing boats should do two parade laps of the course, about 2.10pm.

"We have agreed to do two laps around the parade course for the public as a mark of respect for the crew out of the boat.''

Mr Barry-Cotter said he did not know the driver, and police were yet to release the man's name.

Race events will continue as planned tomorrow, he said, with a parade lap at 3pm and with racing underway from 3.30pm.