Tributes flow for Australian policeman killed in rafting accident near Queenstown
Detective Senior Constable Joshua Paroci, 31, died in a rafting incident in Queenstown on Saturday.
The Australian man who died in a rafting incident near Queenstown was a detective senior constable with the New South Wales police force.
Joshua Paroci, 31, was one of a group of six Australians rafting on Saturday afternoon with Challenge Rafting on the Shotover River when they overturned near the Toilet Rapids.
Company spokeswoman Tsehai Tiffin said staff Paroci was being brought back from the far side of the river when he lost his grip on the rescue rope and was swept to the next rapid.
Australian Joshua Paroci, pictured with his wife, who is also a police officer.
He was helped by a safety kayaker through another rapid and then to shore, but lost consciousness and could not be revived.
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NSW police Commissioner Mick Fuller said Paroci would be missed.
Friends, family and fellow rafters gathered at the Shotover River to pay tribute to Keith 'Chief' Haare in March. Joshua Paroci, 31, died on the same section of river on Saturday.
"The hardest part of my job is when we lose one of our own and my thoughts are with Detective S/C Paroci's wife, who is also a police officer, family, friends and colleagues," he said in a statement.
"Detective 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."
It was the second death on the same section of the river within two months after guide Keith Haare, 62, also known as Chief, died from a medical event in late March.
Tiffin said Challenge Rafting offered its "deepest sympathy to [Paroci's] family and friends".
It was not unusual for rafts to overturn on grade four or five rivers, like the Shotover, Tiffin said. Customers were issued with equipment to help keep them warm and safe, including a wetsuit, neoprene jacket, booties, spray jacket, lifejacket and helmet.
Another member of the same group was injured and was flown to Lakes District Hospital for treatment. The rest of the group were flown out by helicopter and all flew back to Australia on Monday morning.
The weather was fine and sunny on Saturday and the river was at a medium to low flow at 16 cubic metres a second, well within standard operating parameters, Tiffin said.
Challenge Rafting worked closely with Queenstown Rafting, whose general manager, Luke Taylor, said he and his staff were devastated.
"Our hearts go out to our guests and the families of those involved in this. Both our companies wish to offer the group our sincere condolences and ongoing support," he said.
Queenstown Rafting and Challenge Rafting have voluntarily suspended operations on the river until further notice.
NSW child abuse and sex crimes squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec described Paroci as a great man and an excellent detective, who would be sorely missed by the team.
"Professionally, Josh was a tireless worker; dedicated to investigating some of the most heinous crimes against children," he said.
"His passion was justice for victims. Not only was he a police officer, he was completing a law degree, which he intended to use to create better outcomes for young victims.
"Josh was inspirational, and everywhere he worked, he turned colleagues into mates; today, we mourn the loss of our good mate."
Police said they were investigating the cause of Saturday's incident, and Maritime New Zealand was conducting a separate investigation.
An autopsy was expected to be carried out in Invercargill on Monday.
- Stuff
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