‘Wellloved’ rafting guide dies on Shotover River
A QUEENSTOWN man who died during a whitewater rafting trip on the Shotover River yesterday was one of his company’s most senior and experienced guides.
The man, who has not been named, was found unresponsive in the water after recovering an overturned raft during a Queenstown Rafting excursion about 11am.
General manager Luke Taylor said in a statement the guide was ‘‘well loved and highly respected’’.
‘‘We are all devastated and staff have been offered support,’’ he said.
The man was one of three guides accompanying 11 passengers on two rafts on a trip between Deep Creek, in Skippers Canyon, and Arthurs Point.
The incident occurred just after he went through a rapid in the ‘‘Mother’’ section of the river, about halfway through the trip.
‘‘Whilst recovering an overturned raft he spoke to the dedicated safety kayaker shortly before he was found unresponsive in the water.
‘‘Extensive CPR was performed at the scene, including the use of a portable defibrillator until paramedics arrived, but he did not survive.’’
The man’s body was flown from the site soon after noon by a Lakes District Air Rescue Trust helicopter.
Mr Taylor said the company had suspended its rafting operations and would carry out its own investigation.
The incident was being handled by the police and Maritime New Zealand, and WorkSafe New Zealand had been informed.
Queenstown Rafting, which merged last year with two other companies under the Go Orange brand, claims to be the country’s largest whitewater rafting operator.