Friends of Sarah Teelow started paying tribute to her after the world champion skier was tragically killed in a shocking accident when she was participating in the Bridge to Bridge race in Australia.

The Australian reports that Dale Ashton was at loss of words. However, he wrote on Facebook that he was glad that he, along with Ms Teelow, won a Bridge to Bridge Championship together.

Emily Rains held Ms Teelow's hand in the hospital and gave her a kiss before saying goodbye to her friend. She said that she felt "lost and gutted."

Samantha Brown called Ms Teelow a "legend taken way before her time."

Rod Buhr, the Wellington Mayor, said that it was unfortunate that she died during what she loved to do.

According to Ray Patterson whose son Darren was in the observing boat of Ms Teelow, there was no "rhyme or reason" about the accident. It was just another awkward fall which did not seem dangerous. The fall was not more dangerous than playing football, he told the Sydney Morning Herald as reported by Sky.com.

The 20-year-old waterskier crashed during the starting phase of the waterski championship on the Hawkesbury River on Sunday, Nov 24. She suffered from serious injuries to her head and spine. She was immediately airlifted to a local hospital where she passed away the following evening, Sky Sports reports.

Kristie Middleton, the chief executive of Ski Racing Australia, told iDesign Times that the ski racing community was extremely sad due to what happened to such a talented sportswoman like Ms Teelow. She extended deep condolences to Ms Teelow on behalf of the fraternity. She said that Ski Racing Australia was in the process of cooperating with maritime authorities and police who had been investigating why Ms Teelow had crashed into the water.

Ms Teelow happens to be the seventh waterskier who was killed in Australia in the last 5 years, Australian Bureau of Statistics points out.

Ms Teelow was a university student, whose mother, Tania, also won several water ski world championships. The younger Teelow was winner of the Women's World Formula Two championship last September and is described as "one of the sport's most accomplished young competitors" by Ski Racing Australia.