A man who died in a water skiing accident on the Murray River near the New South Wales-Victoria border has been identified as a loving father and husband.
Matthew Arnall, 42, was injured at around 11am while running in the Robinvale Euston 80 race on Saturday and paramedics were unable to revive him.
Ski Racing Victoria canceled the Saturday and Sunday event.
“As a ski racing community, we are here to support the affected families and team members, as well as the ski racing community at large at this very sad time,” it said in a statement.
“We would like to thank everyone for the efforts and support, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.”
Matthew Arnall (pictured, top right) died after suffering serious injuries while water skiing on the Murray River on Saturday.
Heartbroken friends and family have paid tribute to the father-of-two, who lived with his wife Tara in the town of Crookwell, near Goulburn.
Kaly Smith said he was a “true legend,” a beloved member of the “ski racing family.”
‘You were a giver, the kindest soul but also the rudest, but you always put others first. “We are heartbroken beyond words for Tara and the children,” she wrote on social media.
‘Your crazy antics will be missed, a true gentleman taken too soon. How life is not fair.
I’m sure the guys will have you some beers tonight. Rest in peace, friend.”
The latest incident comes after the death of a man in the Southern 80 water ski race last month, also on the Murray River.
Truck driver Luke Wentworth, aged in his 40s, died after suffering catastrophic injuries in the first hour of the event.
It is understood the speedboat towing Mr Wentworth was traveling at high speed when it swung around a sharp bend, sending him into a tree.
Friends and family paid tribute to the loving father and husband (pictured right) who remembered him as a “legend”.
