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Father of four killed and boat pilot in a critical condition after high-speed crash during a memorial race a year after a skiier was killed on the same stretch of water
•A man has died at the Bridge to Bridge race trials on the Hawkesbury River
•Ian Baker was an experienced observer and was 'thrown into the water' following a fatal crash
•The driver, Daniel McMahon, is in a serious but stable condition
•The race was being held to remember a champion water-skier who died at the same event last year
•It is still unclear whether tomorrow's race will go ahead
By Sarah Carty for Daily Mail Australia
One man has died and another is in a critical condition after a high-speed boat crash during a memorial Bridge to Bridge time-trials.
It is the second fatality in two years for the prestigious race.
44-year-old experienced observer Ian Baker, nicknamed Bakes, from Victoria, died when he was thrown from his boat on the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney.
Police were called to the crash scene following reports a boat had flipped over during time trials for Sunday's race, throwing its occupants into the water.
The cause of the crash has not been confirmed, however investigations are underway.
The driver, Daniel McMahon, from Perth, is in a serious condition in Westmead Hospital.
The high-speed race trials were being held in remembrance of 20-year-old champion water-skier Sarah Teelow, who sustained serious spinal and head injuries and died in the same race, just one year ago.
According to NSW Police, emergency services were called to the Hawkesbury River, near Portland Head Road, following reports a boat had crashed about 11:45am on Saturday morning.
'It is believed the boat was towing two water skiers and participating in trials for the Bridge to Bridge Race when it lost control and flipped,' police said.
'The driver and his observer were thrown into the water where they were picked up by a rescue boat and taken to shore,'
Emergency services were called to the river and attempted to revive the Mr Baker, however he sadly passed away at the scene.
The boat is still submerged in water at the scene of the crash.
When it is retrieved it will be mechanically examined for evidence
Two water-skiers who were skiing off the back of the boat managed to swim to shore and were able to assist the injured men.
Broken Bay Water Police and officers from the local Hawesbury command have established a crime scene which will be investigated by a forensic team.
Attempts will be made by water police to revive the boat by nightfall
Just last year, the maritime community was left in shock following the tragic death of champion skier Sarah Teelow.
All events on the river were stopped while detectives from the Marine Area Command continued investigations into the crash.
It is unclear whether Sunday's remembrance race will go ahead.
The annual Bridge to Bridge Ski Race is one of the longest running and most prestigious ski racing events in the Southern Hemisphere.
It runs for 112km on the Hawkesbury River, from mouth of the River to Windsor in Western Sydney.
Inspector Suzanne Rode-Sander said the boat had apparently flipped over during its designated time trial.
‘The boat has apparently flipped and ejected the driver and the observer,’ she said.
‘The skiers actually dropped their skis and were able to assist the injured people.
She said the skiers were obviously very distressed following the incident.
‘It’s very tragic and it’s very upsetting for all concerned,’ she said.
Noel Griffin from Ski Racing Australia expressed his sadness at today's tragedy in a statement.
'Police and maritime authorities have taken charge of the incident and it is not appropriate that we make further direct comment until those authorities have informed relatives and given us permission to speak,' he said.
'The incident occurred on a broad expanse of the Hawkesbury River while the boat was towing two skiers in qualifying.'
In a feature story on Ski Racing Australia's website, driver and owner of 99 Psycho Clowns Daniel McMahon said he would like to see a change to speed patterns in the sport.
20-year-old champion water-skier Sarah Teelow sustained serious spinal and head injuries during the same race last year.
She died in hospital a few days later.
'The one thing I’d like to see is Superclass and Unlimited becoming capped for speed. It would make all boats equal, and probably more importantly, it would be safer.' he said.
He also talked about the teams drive and their love for the sport.
'At first, we had some resistance within the sport – not many people had that sort of mindset, and a lot of them would tell us that’s just not the way th
Both Mr Baker and Mr McMahon were competing in the time-trials as part of their team, 99 Psycho Clowns.
Mr Baker, a married father-of-four, has been involved in ski-racing for 22-years.
His role in the team consisted of 'Observer, Skier, Driver (Rookie) and Accommodation Administrator.'
The Telstra worker revealed on the site that his favourite hobbies were skiing and swimming.
Photos and Video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
•A man has died at the Bridge to Bridge race trials on the Hawkesbury River
•Ian Baker was an experienced observer and was 'thrown into the water' following a fatal crash
•The driver, Daniel McMahon, is in a serious but stable condition
•The race was being held to remember a champion water-skier who died at the same event last year
•It is still unclear whether tomorrow's race will go ahead
By Sarah Carty for Daily Mail Australia
One man has died and another is in a critical condition after a high-speed boat crash during a memorial Bridge to Bridge time-trials.
It is the second fatality in two years for the prestigious race.
44-year-old experienced observer Ian Baker, nicknamed Bakes, from Victoria, died when he was thrown from his boat on the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney.
Police were called to the crash scene following reports a boat had flipped over during time trials for Sunday's race, throwing its occupants into the water.
The cause of the crash has not been confirmed, however investigations are underway.
The driver, Daniel McMahon, from Perth, is in a serious condition in Westmead Hospital.
The high-speed race trials were being held in remembrance of 20-year-old champion water-skier Sarah Teelow, who sustained serious spinal and head injuries and died in the same race, just one year ago.
According to NSW Police, emergency services were called to the Hawkesbury River, near Portland Head Road, following reports a boat had crashed about 11:45am on Saturday morning.
'It is believed the boat was towing two water skiers and participating in trials for the Bridge to Bridge Race when it lost control and flipped,' police said.
'The driver and his observer were thrown into the water where they were picked up by a rescue boat and taken to shore,'
Emergency services were called to the river and attempted to revive the Mr Baker, however he sadly passed away at the scene.
The boat is still submerged in water at the scene of the crash.
When it is retrieved it will be mechanically examined for evidence
Two water-skiers who were skiing off the back of the boat managed to swim to shore and were able to assist the injured men.
Broken Bay Water Police and officers from the local Hawesbury command have established a crime scene which will be investigated by a forensic team.
Attempts will be made by water police to revive the boat by nightfall
Just last year, the maritime community was left in shock following the tragic death of champion skier Sarah Teelow.
All events on the river were stopped while detectives from the Marine Area Command continued investigations into the crash.
It is unclear whether Sunday's remembrance race will go ahead.
The annual Bridge to Bridge Ski Race is one of the longest running and most prestigious ski racing events in the Southern Hemisphere.
It runs for 112km on the Hawkesbury River, from mouth of the River to Windsor in Western Sydney.
Inspector Suzanne Rode-Sander said the boat had apparently flipped over during its designated time trial.
‘The boat has apparently flipped and ejected the driver and the observer,’ she said.
‘The skiers actually dropped their skis and were able to assist the injured people.
She said the skiers were obviously very distressed following the incident.
‘It’s very tragic and it’s very upsetting for all concerned,’ she said.
Noel Griffin from Ski Racing Australia expressed his sadness at today's tragedy in a statement.
'Police and maritime authorities have taken charge of the incident and it is not appropriate that we make further direct comment until those authorities have informed relatives and given us permission to speak,' he said.
'The incident occurred on a broad expanse of the Hawkesbury River while the boat was towing two skiers in qualifying.'
In a feature story on Ski Racing Australia's website, driver and owner of 99 Psycho Clowns Daniel McMahon said he would like to see a change to speed patterns in the sport.
20-year-old champion water-skier Sarah Teelow sustained serious spinal and head injuries during the same race last year.
She died in hospital a few days later.
'The one thing I’d like to see is Superclass and Unlimited becoming capped for speed. It would make all boats equal, and probably more importantly, it would be safer.' he said.
He also talked about the teams drive and their love for the sport.
'At first, we had some resistance within the sport – not many people had that sort of mindset, and a lot of them would tell us that’s just not the way th
Both Mr Baker and Mr McMahon were competing in the time-trials as part of their team, 99 Psycho Clowns.
Mr Baker, a married father-of-four, has been involved in ski-racing for 22-years.
His role in the team consisted of 'Observer, Skier, Driver (Rookie) and Accommodation Administrator.'
The Telstra worker revealed on the site that his favourite hobbies were skiing and swimming.
Photos and Video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
