A 35-year-old New Zealander was killed on Sunday during the annual Around the Island power boat race when his craft flipped off of Coral Beach.

Stuart Smith was rushed to shore where a doctor who had been watching the race gave mouth to mouth resuscitation, but it proved in vain.

Mr. Smith, a mechanic, had been co-piloting C7 with A&P Marine colleague Michael Araujo when it hit a wave, sending it airborne.

As it hit the water, the left tip of their catamaran caught sending the vessel into a nosedive.

Mr. Smith was thrown from the boat as it flipped and landed in the water.

Video footage showed Mr. Araujo's head pop up from the overturned boat while Mr. Smith's body floated lifelessly behind him.

Tourist Anne Getz, 42, of Connecticut, was on Coral beach with her family when they brought Mr. Smith in at around 2.30 p.m.

She said: "He was sitting upright, strapped in, looking ill. They put him on a sun lounger and brought him to the shore.

"The crowd turned from being euphoric and thrilled with the race to being sullen.

"We thought he was in shock or sea sick.

"People were calling 911 and they did CPR, but it didn't look like it was working.

"There were about 300 people crowded around but they kept their distance. We never expected to see anything like that. You tried not to look, but you couldn't help it.

"When I looked over again, the sheet was on his head and the buzz went through the crowd that he was dead.

"We were all thinking this attractive young man didn't set out to die today. We were stunned.

"This beautiful Sunday afternoon in Bermuda, how quickly death was right at the door.

"He was so young and handsome, it's so disturbing.

"It was hard to recover. A lot of people went home.

"Then the boat dropped off his partner here. I don't know if he knew his friend was dead. When he realised his friend didn't make it, he broke down in tears.

"He was hysterical. The emergency people tried their best to calm him down and console him.

"Then we all saw the boat which had flipped being towed in. It was too much to bear.

"They were both wearing life jackets and helmets."

Eyewitness Kavin Smith - who videotaped the accident as it occurred - told The Royal Gazette bystanders did not immediately realise the seriousness of the accident.

"The boat was cruising along and then boom. Everyone who was watching just kind of screamed `whoa'," he said.

"I knew it had to be serious. The guy was just floating in the water. We saw people go out to help."

The D-class duo of Desmond Deshields and Kenneth Mills - on whose boat Smith was carried ashore - appeared equally disturbed. They declined comment and Mills spent a long time squatting with his head bent low.

At 4.22 p.m. the sight of B-360, still upside down, being towed into Ferry Reach under Police escort was a harsh reminder of how wrong a day of keen competition and fun had gone.

Eerily, Smith was heard live on local radio minutes before he and Araujo started. He was looking forward to the race but admitted being nervous.

It was Smith's second attempt at the premiere event. He and Araujo competed last year but their boat suffered engine failure.

Last night, Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said efforts were being made to contact Mr. Smith's family in Whatatane, New Zealand. It is understood he leaves a seven-year-old son.

Debbie Araujo, speaking to The Royal Gazette as her husband was undergoing surgery said Mr. Smith was hardworking, dedicated and well liked.

She said: "He was lovely, fun-loving and charming. He had been here a couple of years and worked with my husband.

"He loved racing and died doing what he loved doing. I don't think he was racing before he came here.

"My husband is devastated, Stuart was a good friend so he's very upset."

And Helen Pellet speaking for a group of Mr. Smith's friends said: "He lived life to the full."

She said Mr. Smith, who had come to the Island two years ago, would be remembered as a fun-loving daredevil who enjoyed extreme sport.

"He always took it to the point of no return. That was Stuart. He was a great character, he's irreplaceable."

The accident was one of several yesterday and three other men - including Mr. Araujo - had to be rushed to hospital for treatment.

Mr. Araujo was treated for a broken arm and fractured ribs.

Last year's champion David Durham also flipped while travelling at John Smith's Bay at 3 p.m.

Mr. Durham was rushed to hospital and treated for neck and back injuries. Mr. Caines said none of the three other accident victims sustained life-threatening injuries.

A third boat, driven by Michael Lopes and Joseph Vieira, flipped off Ordnance Island and Mr. Lopes was being treated for a possible concussion last night.

Race organisers struggled to deal with the unfolding tragedy from Ferry Reach and the competition was all but abandoned as drivers rallied to attend to the injured.

Just seven boats out of a field of 33 crossed the line at full speed.

Commodore Chris Roque asked drivers to re-assemble at Flanagan's bar last night for an update.

"People are on the way to the hospital," he told those drivers assembled at Ferry Reach.

"We don't have any information confirmed yet, but they are there and they are being dealt with."

He added: "You guys did a great job despite all the incidents. I wanted to congratulate you, each and everyone, for stopping to help at those incidents.

"It's been a hard day guys. Let's clean it up quick and go home."

Police have issued an appeal that any eyewitnesses to the fatal crash should contact Marine Police.

Eyewitnesses and anyone with video footage of the incident are asked to call Insp. Mark Bothello at 296-3656.

Meanwhile, as news of the fatality spread at Ferry Reach, the mood of the power boat fraternity shifted dramatically.

Smiles and whoops of delight as boats whizzed past the finish line changed to agonising grimaces and cries of disbelief.

"Oh no man! No!" screamed one man, upon learning of Smith's demise.

Bermuda Power Boat Association veteran and race official, Ernie Mello, flung his clipboard to the ground and walked off for a quiet moment alone.

"He was my mate. He was a good guy," said Mello, fighting back tears.

The trauma of the event was too much for those who witnessed it first-hand.

The C-4 team of Steven Bridges and John Stephens were among the first to C-7's rescue. They begged off any interviews until they could pull themselves together.

"We put Stuart onto a D-class boat and they took him into Elbow Beach and then Michael got on another boat and I'm not sure where he was taken.

"Michael was talking and Stuart. I don't want to say anymore. It wasn't a pleasant sight.

"I've seen things before but not like that; I'll leave it at that," said Stephens, his voice trailing off as he shook his head.

Asked if this would affect whether he races again, the boating enthusiast who has been racing three years replied: "Definitely. I just got married this year and I don't need this."