A 32-year-old Smith's Parish man was last night fighting for life after a freak powerboat race accident left him ina 'seriou' condition.

Joey DeSilva, who was thrown from his boat during Sunday's Around the Island race, is in the intensive care unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. According to a source close to the family, prayers are being said for Mr. DeSilva to make a full recovery.

Mr. DeSilva was catapulted from the power craft, along with his co-pilot, a 31-year-old St. George's man, near the Five Star Island in Southampton at around 2.25 p.m.

The men were taken to hospital via ambulance. However, it is understood that his co-pilot's injuries were deemed to be non-life threatening. There were many eyewitnesses to the accident, which is blamed on unconfirmed reports that prop wash currents discharged from boats Mr. DeSilva and his partner were following caused the likely thrust at a high rate of speed.

In addition, at least two other accidents occurred during the competition, which sees boats attain speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

At 3.30 p.m. that day, Marine Police received a report of two men injured after the pilot and co-pilot, collided with a wave near Town Cut, in St. George's.

The pair received treatment for minor bruising and lacerations and was subsequently released.

Apparently, there was another similar incident, on South Shore, which also resulted in minor injuries to the pilot of that boat, who was treated at KEMH for bruising and a bloody nose before being discharged.

The winner of Sunday's competition, Ricky Sousa, told The Royal Gazette, while power boat racing was always a risky business, the Bermuda Power Boat Association, the event's governing body, exercised high safety standards.

Mr. Sousa revealed: "Joey's accident is unfortunate, he's a friend of mine and all of his collogues in the boating association are pulling for him and his wife.

"I did not actually witness Joey's accident. When my co-pilot and I got there, it had already taken place.

"Everybody's hoping for the best as well as some good news very shortly."

While accidents such as Mr. Desilva's are uncommon in Bermuda, competitors are well aware of the dangers of the sport every time they get inside their boat, said Mr. Sousa.

"That's the sport. It can happen and you've got freak accidents and it's apart of the game ¿ we all known that before we jump in the boat. We're not strapped down in these boats and the idea is that if you do get ejected, the idea is to get thrown away from it rather than being strapped in like in a car.

"And that's because if anything happens, you're not trapped inside.

"The best thing in the world is to be thrown away from the boat, if you're thrown clear that's your best chance.

"The bottom line is that we know it's dangerous before we even jump into the boat. Joey is a family man and one of the nicest guys you'll meet."

A close source to Mr. DeSilva's family added: "It was an extremely freak accident, it wasn't because of a pleasure boat or anything that got in the way.

"I believe he got caught in the prop wash from the boat racing in front of him.

"Prop wash is when a boat running a propellor in front of you causes air bubbles like a current off of the back of the boat."

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Marine Police Unit at 299-4584.

In particular, Police would like to speak with the operators of two jet skis, which assisted following the accident.

This incident was not initially reported to Police.