A 21-year-old tourist from Bewdley has died while taking part in an extreme sport in New Zealand.

Emily Jordan was trapped between rocks and drowned while “riverboarding” – riding a body board on fast-flowing rapids.

She died in the Kawarau River Gorge near Queenstown on South Island, New Zealand police said.

Miss Jordan, who was from Trimpley, near Bewdley, was travelling with the Mad Dog River Boarding Company.

The website of the Queenstown-based firm describes riverboarding as “the most personally challenging and action-packed water activity in New Zealand”.

Sgt Stephen Ereckson said the group was in the gorge near the town of Cromwell when Ms Jordan became trapped.

Guides struggled to free her for about 20 minutes, then attempted to resuscitate her on the bank.

The river was flowing normally at the time and the incident will now be investigated, Sgt Ereckson said.

Brad McLeod, owner of the Mad Dog River Boarding Company, said emergency procedures were followed.

He described the drowning as his “worst nightmare” and said the firm would be closed until further notice.

Miss Jordan’s family also own a house in Sutton Park Road, Kidderminster, but are currently believed to be living at Bewdley.

Miss Jordan was on a six-month holiday with her boyfriend. She graduated from the University of Wales in Swansea last year with a first class law degree.

Former teachers paid tribute to the young woman who “relished challenges”.

Her former tutor at The Alice Ottley School, an independent girls school which merged with the Worcester Royal Grammar School last year, described her as an “excellent pupil” who was “hard-working and conscientious”.