Hawkesbury River, Pitt Town: Man dead in wakeboarding accident

A man has been killed in a wakeboarding accident in Sydney’s northwest.

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A wakeboarder has been killed in an accident on the Hawkesbury River.

The man, who is yet to be formally identified but is understood to be in his 40s, died at the scene.

A NSW Police spokeswoman told the Hills Shire Times emergency services were called to a caravan park at Hall St, Pitt Town around 3.30pm following reports of a person being injured while wakeboarding.

“ Paramedics attended and attempted to resuscitate the man,” the spokeswoman said. “They were unsuccessful and he died at the scene.”

“Officers from Hawkesbury Police Area Command have established a crime scene and are speaking with witnesses and a report will be prepared for the coroner.”

Three paramedic crews and the CareFlight Rapid Response Helicopter raced to the incident in an effort to save the man, however, there was nothing that could be done.

NSW Ambulance duty operations manager Joe Ibrahim said the man went into a cardiac arrest.

“When paramedics arrived at the scene it as absolutely frantic,” he said.

“The report we received was that the man had been wakeboarding when he collapsed. A boat managed to pull him from the water and CPR was commenced prior to our arrival.

“This was extremely traumatic for everyone involved and our paramedics worked extensively on the man and did everything they could.”

Mr Ibrahim said the people on the boat did an incredible job trying to save someone's life.

“Accidents can happen in a second,” he said. “But the impact remains with those involved for a lifetime.

“Our hearts and thoughts are with the family.”