Inquest into the death of Sarah Teelow
Deceased
Sarah Louise Teelow
Demographics
20y, female
Date of death
2013-11-25
Finding date
2018-05-31
Cause of death
Atlanto-occipital (C0/1) injury caused by exposure to high force or force impact to head when she lost control of water ski and struck water during high speed water ski race
AI-generated summary
Sarah Teelow, a 20-year-old world champion water skier, died from severe head and neck injuries (atlanto-occipital fracture) sustained when she fell at approximately 75-85 mph during a high-speed water ski race. She lost control of her ski after hitting small waves of unclear origin. While investigation could not definitively establish the source of the waves, speed was identified as a contributing factor to the severity of injury and kinetics of the fall. The helmet worn, designed for skydiving not water skiing, did not materially contribute to her death. Systemic issues identified included: lack of Australian Standards for water ski helmets, inadequate helmet fit checking procedures, unclear personal flotation device specifications, and absence of speed restrictions in Formula 2 racing. These gaps represented missed opportunities for risk mitigation in an inherently hazardous sport.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- High speed (approximately 75-85 mph / 136.8 km/h)
- Loss of control of water ski
- Small waves of unclear origin
- Lack of speed restrictions in Formula 2 class
- Helmet not designed for water skiing
- Inadequate helmet fit checking procedures
Coroner's recommendations
- Ski Racing Australia continues to consult with members regarding introduction of speed restrictions in Formula 2 class
- Ski Racing Australia collaborate with manufacturers and stakeholders to develop helmet technical specifications for water skiers and revise rules accordingly
- Ski Racing Australia collaborate with manufacturers and stakeholders to develop Personal Flotation Device technical specifications for water skiers to maximise safety and revise rules accordingly
- Ski Racing Australia introduce requirement that race scrutineers ensure all helmets are secure and close fit (snug) with straps secure and correctly adjusted
- Roads and Maritime Services consult with Ski Racing Australia and stakeholders to determine whether speed restrictions should be condition of aquatic licence for Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic
Full text
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