'He was the David Beckham of water skiing... he lived the American dream'.

Byline: By Delme Parfitt South Wales Echo 

A distraught mum and dad were today preparing to bring their son's body home from Las Vegas after he died in a water-skiing accident.

Cardiff-born Karl Brooks, 25, the current European champion and world number three, broke his neck in a freak training accident on Lake Mead on the outskirts of the city.

His dad, Peter Harding, of South Road, Sully, received news in a phone call in the early hours of last Friday that his son had probably died instantly that afternoon after coming off his ski at 80mph.

Mr Harding and his estranged wife Karen Brooks said their final farewells to Karl at a chapel of rest on Sunday.

They plan to hold a ceremony in Vegas before flying him home for burial later this week.

"Karl was living the American dream in Vegas, he wanted to be world champion at water-skiing and he would have been," said Mr Harding, who runs his own electrical business.

"We are totally devastated and wondering just how this could have happened.

"We've been told it was a freak incident.

"Water-skiing was his life.

"He has been the number one in Britain for the last three years and now we have had to go and see his body. It's hard to put into words how we feel. We are just trying to stay focused for the things that must be done in the next few days."

Karl had set up home in Las Vegas after being spotted by American water-skiing enthusiasts and casino owners the Herbst family, while competing.

They sponsored him, allowing him to pursue the sport full-time and he had just returned from an event in New Zealand.

"They treated him like a king," added Mr Harding, who travelled without his second wife, also called Karen, and their two children Miles, 11, and Gabrielle, 9.

"He came out to Vegas because he wanted to be the best. We will all miss him terribly."

Karl's mum, Karen Brooks who hails from Roath, Cardiff, but now lives in Basildon with her husband Martin Brooks and her two younger sons, Kurt, 13, and Scott, 16, said losing her son in these circumstances had always been her worst fear.

"We feel completely numb," said Mrs Brooks, a former pupil of St Teilo's Comprehensive School, Penylan.

"We cannot come to terms with it, he was so handsome. Apparently, he hit the water with incredible force and I just hope the first impact was what did it.

"They have told us that when they got him up on the boat, they thought he was already gone."

Karl had represented Great Britain in a number of different classes of the sport for years.

His dad added: "Karl gave his whole life to water-skiing.

"He trained like an Olympian, getting up at 5am to go road-running and training unbelievably hard.

"He did an apprenticeship with my company for a while when he was younger, when we had a contract to work on the London Underground.

"Well, if he had to die like this I am glad it was doing what he loved rather than falling off a scaffolding working for me."

Karl's stepdad Martin Brooks, who guided him in the sport from a young age, added: "We're heartbroken. Karl was the David Beckham of the water-skiing world.

"So popular and so respected by everybody. He started at the age of 16 and he had such big plans."

Karl's death has left the water-skiing fraternity all over the world in shock.

On the official Water-ski Federation site for racing, more than 150 tributes have already been left.

"We have been overwhelmed by the response," said Mrs Brooks. "It just shows how well thought of Karl was.

"We thank everyone for their support and kindness at what is just a horrendous time." LIFE IN FAST LANE: International water-skiing is a glamorous world that takes its stars to some of the planet's most beautiful places - and Karl Brooks was one of its largest characters.

With his natural athleticism, the South Wales-born 25-year-old become a hero in a sport that idolises bravery.

Contestants compete to see who can perform the best tricks and jumps, and who can complete the toughest slalom courses.

The sport's calendar takes its heroes across the world for races from the glorious bay of San Francisco to the narrow Albert Canal in Belgium and this year to the pinnacle of the sport: the world championships in New Zealand.

Karl's MySpace page tells the story of a life filled with fast boats, late nights and beautiful women.

As he says in his introduction: "I am 25 and living in Sin City (Vegas). I like to party and have a good time."

And an entry by friend Robbo adds: "Thanks for barging in at 5.30am with your entourage." DOZENS OF TRIBUTES FROM WORLD WATER-SKIERS: More than 100 friends and fellow water-skiers from all over the world have paid tribute to Karl on an online message board. Among the 170 messages were:

Carlo wrote: "Karl I will miss you forever..."

Sergio wrote: "I just can't believe what happened. Every time I've seen Karl before races, warming up, just before putting his ski, even when he was boxing the air sitting in the boat's bow, he would always cheer ya up, smile and laugh."

Elke Bertels wrote: "Like many, I feel empty and sad today."

Jarquin, Mendoza, Craddick wrote: "As an old US 60s racing family, we wish to convey our deepest sympathy. We too just can't believe it.

"We have tapes of Karl racing to the line at Marathons and Catalina. Always the best sportsman on water or land."

Corey Cook wrote: "He was one of us - a racer. He was also a son, a brother and friend."

Laura Russell wrote: "Words just can't describe Karl, he was the best thing that ever happened in my life and I will never forget him, neither will anyone else who had the pleasure of knowing him.

"He was a real champion and skiing was his life, he lived and breathed it, it was his true love."