The father of a 22-year-old American polo player who died unexpectedly near Christchurch over Labour weekend says her family are planning a celebration of her life.
Lauren Biddle died in Clifton, at a beach side suburb near Sumner in Christchurch in the early hours of Monday morning.
Police and medical staff arrived at the house around 1am to find a friend performing CPR on her.
Lauren had been in New Zealand for just over a week and had planned to work and play polo until March.
In an interview with the Herald on Sunday, Tommy Biddle Sr said coming to terms with his daughters death was a process.
"We'll never get over it but we're trying to move forward, and figure out ways to cope with it," he said from his home in Houston.
The family are waiting on a police toxicology test and post mortem results to be finalised before Lauren’s body could be sent home.
After this happens, her family, friends and polo community will hold a celebration of her life.
"We don't want people in black or being down ... we want everyone to have a good time and celebrate her," Mr Biddle said.
"In another two weeks they have the US women's open, which Lauren participated in a few times, they're going to hand out arm bands for the girls to wear in the tournament in her honour."
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