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'Old head on young shoulders': Emily Jordan died while river boarding in New Zealand.

THE parents of a 21-year-old Trimpley woman who was killed in an extreme sport accident in New Zealand have spoken about their poignant visit to the site where she died.

Emily Jordan became trapped between submerged rocks in Central Otago while river boarding down the Kawarau River last Tuesday.

Her parents, Chris and Sarah Jordan, and Emily's sister, Lucy, flew out to New Zealand to visit the site last Thursday, returning on Monday.

The law graduate was on a commercial river boarding trip with the Mad Dog River Boarding company from Queenstown on the country's South Island.

Emily, who graduated from Swansea University last year, was on a six-month trip with her boyfriend and had travelled to New Zealand's North Island before arriving in Queenstown.

Mr Jordan explained the family had gone to New Zealand following the fatal accident to see how things had happened.

He said: "We met her boyfriend, who was extremely distraught, being so close to the event, and having travelled with Emily for so long. It was a very traumatic time for all of us.

"We were very well treated. People in New Zealand came up to us to express their condolences. Everyone felt for us. We were very impressed with the reception we got and the help of the people there.

Touched people's lives: Emily Jordan.

"We have had a lot of support from people in New Zealand, including the police."

He added: "Emily's death has been devastating for the family. It's a very traumatic time. It changes everyone's life and Emily has made such an impression on everybody in her short life.

"She had an old head on very young shoulders and she'd always been very level headed about things."

He explained that the police investigation was ongoing and added he was prepared to wait for the results of the investigation after visiting the site where his daughter died.

"We want the long term memory of Emily to, hopefully, touch everyone's lives," Mr Jordan told the Shuttle/Times & News.

"Emily was a competent person in the water. She had done a lot of sailing and scuba diving.

"We have been told the investigation will take two months and river boarding has been suspended until after the investigation."

Miss Jordan was captain of the women's lacrosse team at Swansea University and was an ex-pupil of the former Alice Ottley School in Worcester, where she gained A levels in economics, history, Spanish and general studies.

A memorial service will be held for Emily at Kidderminster's St Mary's Church next Friday at 2pm, following a private family funeral.

"There's going to be a lot of people there," Mr Jordan said.

"We have had a lot of condolences and cards. There will be people coming from overseas for the service. We're trying to prepare for it as best we can.

"It will be attended by a lot of people who knew Emily and we've asked everyone to wear a touch of baby blue.

"Emily has influenced many people and has probably achieved more than many achieve in a longer lifetime.

"It's not about the length of life - it's about what you achieve when you're here."

He added that Emily's body was due to arrive in Bewdley yesterday.

1:48pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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