Hydroplane racer dead after accident in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.

A hydroplane racer from Quebec is dead after crashing over the weekend at a regatta southwest of Montreal.

Rgates de Valleyfield said today that driver Franois Leroux died after an accident on Sunday while he was competing in the consolation final in the Hydro 350 class in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.

The 56-year-old from Sherbrooke, Que., was taken to hospital unconscious and in critical condition after the crash. The rest of the day's racing was cancelled.

In an online post, event organizers expressed their condolencesto his familyand thanked the nautical and medical teams that responded.

A hydroplane is a powerful racing boat that skims above the water at speeds of up to 225 kilometres an hour.

According to the regatta's website, hydroplane racing includes "frequent skids, risk of collision, sometimes zero visibility and no braking system."