A 21 year-old English tourist is dead after becoming trapped between rocks while river boarding in central Otago this afternoon.
The incident happened at about 2.15pm when a group of tourists were river boarding down the Kawarau River in the Kawarau Gorge with the Mad Dog River Boarding Company from Queenstown.
The group were near the Roaring Meg Power Station close to the Central Otago township of Cromwell when the woman became submerged and trapped between rocks in the middle of the river.
Cromwell police say the guides struggled for about 20 minutes to free the woman and then returned her to shore where they immediately began CPR. Emergency Services were called and arrived shortly after the woman reached the shore. Paramedics were unable to revive her.
The woman was travelling with a companion.
Sergeant Stephen Ereckson (crrct) said the river flow was normal for this time of year and an investigation will be launched into the woman's death.
Sergeant Ereckson said the woman's next of kin had yet to be notified.
ENDS