NSW policeman Joshua Paroci dies rafting in New Zealand
An Australian policeman who died during a rafting trip in New Zealand’s South Island has been named.
An Australian man who died during a rafting trip in New Zealand’s South Island has been named as 31-year-old NSW policeman Joshua Paroci.
The NSW native was one of six Australians on the raft, which overturned on rapids at Skippers Canyon near Queenstown on Saturday.
Detective Senior Constable Joshua Paroci joined the force in 2008 and was most recently working at the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has extended condolences to the Paroci family on behalf of the NSW Police Force.
“The hardest part of my job is when we lose one of our own and my thoughts are with Det S/C Paroci’s wife, who is also a police officer, family, friends and colleagues,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“Det S/C Paroci was well respected by all those who knew him and the police family will rally around his loved ones during this difficult time.
New Zealand police on Monday publicly identified Mr Paroci.
He lost his grip as the raft was being towed to a bank, and was swept through another rapid and could not be resuscitated on the shore, according to Totally Tourism, owners of Challenge Rafting.
“We believe everything was done by the book and standard procedure. But the outcome was certainly something we did not expect,” general manager Tim Barke told Radio NZ.
Overturning rafts were not unusual for the grade of the river, he added, and customers were given equipment to ensure their safety and warmth. Another person on the vessel was moderately injured and flown to Lakes District Hospital, while the rest of the group were helicoptered out and returned to Australia on Monday morning, the companies said.
Weather conditions were good during the trip and two other rafts on the same route had not overturned.
Maritime New Zealand and the coroner are also investigating.
With AAP
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