Rapids tragedy girl's parents fly out

The parents of the tourist killed while taking part in a river sport in New Zealand were today flying out to discover how their pretty "shining star" gap-year daughter died.

Emily Jordan, aged 21, from Trimpley, near Bewdley, would have celebrated her 22nd birthday on May 12 during her world tour. She died after becoming trapped underwater while taking part in the extreme sport down a raging river in New Zealand's South Island during a six-month backpacking trip with her boyfriend Jonathan Armour.

They had been river boarding along the Kawarau River gorge near the resort of Queenstown when tragedy struck and she became trapped between rocks.

Emily's mother, Sarah Jordan, aged 49, yesterday spoke about her daughter and told how she would not have let her take part in river boarding if she had been there to stop her. She said: "She was just so full of life, she was a sort of shining star who touched everybody's life.

"She was always laughing and smiling and lived life to the full. She was an intelligent and beautiful daughter."

" I think as parents we said we wouldn't have let her do it because it is too dangerous".

Christopher Jordan, aged 53, Emily's father, who is a publisher, said: "We knew they were going to do lots of things.They wanted to experience life to the full on this trip they were doing around the world.

"They had already done a bungee jump and had planned to go rafting. But doing the river boarding was going one step further.

"We were worried like any parents. With young adults they want to experience the world.

"Emily and Jonathan had worked hard at school and at university to get good degrees. She deserved to do what she wanted to do. Emily wanted to do it, she is that sort of girl. These young people deserved to have that experience."