Tourist dies in riverboarding tragedy

A 21-year-old British tourist died after becoming trapped between rocks while she was riverboarding in Central Otago this afternoon, police say.

The incident happened about 2.15pm when a group of tourists were boarding down the Kawarau River in the Kawarau Gorge with the Mad Dog River Boarding Company from Queenstown.

Riverboarding involves people negotiating river rapids wearing wetsuits and on body boards.

Sergeant Stephen Ereckson said the group were near the Roaring Meg Power Station close to Cromwell when the woman became submerged and trapped between rocks in the middle of the river.

Guides struggled for about 20 minutes to free the woman and then returned her to shore where they immediately began CPR, Mr Erecksen said.

Emergency Services were called and arrived shortly after the woman reached the shore but paramedics were unable to revive her.

The woman was travelling with a companion.

Mr Ereckson said the river flow was normal for this time of year and an investigation would be launched into the woman's death.

The woman would be identified once her next of kin were notified.

- NZPA