KEY POINTS:
A young English doctor died in front of his partner after a Boxing Day jetboat trip went horribly wrong.
Paul Joseph Woods, from Liverpool, was killed when the boat flipped on a braided section of the Matukituki River in Mt Aspiring National Park, near Wanaka.
Woods, 29, who
migrated to New Zealand and had been working at Dunedin Hospital since 2005, was crushed when the boat rolled on top of him.
His partner, Leanne, suffered a hand injury and her brother, David, sustained a leg injury after being trapped under the boat.
The injured were flown by rescue helicopter from the remote riverside scene to Dunedin Hospital. David was awaiting surgery last night.
Constable Mike Johnston of Wanaka Police said five people were on the private jetboat when it flipped above the junction with the eastern branch of the Matukituki River.
All five were thrown from the boat, which came to rest upside down and facing upstream on a gravel bank between two braids.
The boat was in a group of three travelling down river when the accident occurred. The other boats were not involved.
Police paid tribute to members of the public who helped with first aid while lifting the boat off the leg of the trapped passenger.
The accident was in a remote location and passengers were helped by medically trained staff from a nearby canyoning operation.
They were able to stabilise the injured passengers and deal with patients suffering from shock until emergency services arrived.
Emergency personnel from Wanaka Search and Rescue, Wanaka St John, the Lions Rescue Helicopter and the police attended the incident.
The case has been referred to the coroner and police will continue their investigation alongside Maritime Safety officers.
Woods had been working as a surgeon at Dunedin Hospital while studying for a Masters degree in Medical Science at Otago University.
He had been awarded a fellowship by the New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology and worked in the physiology and general surgery departments.
Surgeon Mark Thompson-Fawcett described him as a "warm and confident person" who would be very much missed. "He was a delightful guy really, well-liked in the hospital and the university.
"Paul loved exploring New Zealand and getting out of town. He was loving the opportunity of the outdoor life in New Zealand."
Police have reminded people to be safe while boating, particularly during the holiday period when there are more people on rivers and lakes.
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA
