A man has died in a jet boat racing accident on the Waimakariri River in North Canterbury this morning.
The incident occurred about 10.30am during the World Championship Jet Boat Marathon in Canterbury.
Police have revealed the man who died is 47–year-old, Duayne Barry Insley from Glenorchy.
No one else was injured in the accident.
The New Zealand Jet Boat River Racing Association who run the event stated on their Facebook page the incident occurred during the "upstream leg" of an event.
"Details of exactly how the incident happened are subject of police investigation but we can confirm it occurred in the braided section of the river about ten to fifteen minutes above the area known as 'the pylons'," the statement said.
"The New Zealand Jet Boat River Racing Association is working directly with Canterbury Police.
"Our heart felt condolences go out to the families of everyone involved at this very difficult time."
Canterbury Police report they are informing the individual's next of kin.
In a statement, police said hey are make enquiries into the accident on behalf of the Coroner.
The world championship event is known as the Holy Grail of jet-boat racing.
It begins on the Waimakariri River and continues for a week, moving to Otago rivers.
A race from where State Highway 1 crosses the Waimakariri River to the Gorge Bridge and back was scheduled for today.
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