Australian man dies after during rafting accident near Queenstown

A NSW police officer has died during a rafting accident in New Zealand’s South Island.

The 31-year-old was one of a number of other Australians on the raft, which overturned on rapids near Queenstown.

In a statement this afternoon, NSW Police said Detective Senior Constable Joshua Paroci died following the accident on Saturday afternoon.

It’s believed he was on a guided trip on the Shotover River when the accident occurred.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller paid tribute to the young police officer, who was well respected among his colleagues.

He was most recently working at the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.

“The hardest part of my job is when we lose one of our own and my thoughts are with Det Senior Constable Paroci’s wife, who is also a police officer, family, friends and colleagues,” he said.

Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec, said he will be sorely missed.

“Josh was inspirational, and everywhere he worked, he turned colleagues into mates; today, we mourn the loss of our good mate.”

Maritime New Zealand is investigating.