Oscar-winning sound editor drowns

Hollywood sound editor and Oscar winner Mike Hopkins has been named as the Greytown man who died in a rafting accident in the Tararua Range, http://www.stuff.co.nz reports.

Hopkins, 53, died after his inflatable raft flipped on the Waiohine River about 3pm yesterday.

He was found dead in the water by a rescue helicopter crew, downstream from his two companions, who were both recovered alive.

Rescue teams tried to revive Hopkins, pictured left, but it was too late. A male companion made it to safety and a woman was rescued two hours later by a jet boat crew.

Police said all three people were wearing life jackets, wetsuits and helmets at the time and it appeared that Hopkins had got into trouble after they were thrown from the raft in a fast flowing eddy.