River trip firm facing fine on death

The operator of a New Zealand adventure river trip in which a Midland tourist drowned pleaded guilty today to two charges relating to her death.

Emily Jordan, aged 21, from Trimpley, near Kidderminster, died while riverboarding – riding a body board on fast-flowing rapids – after becoming trapped in the Kawarau River Gorge on New Zealand's South Island.

Black Sheep Adventures Ltd, which trades as Mad Dog River Boarding, and company director Brad McLeod had both denied three charges each of failing to ensure the safety of their customers.

But today all the charges against Mr McLeod and one charge against Black Sheep Adventures were dropped, with the company pleading guilty to the remaining two. The case has been adjourned until tomorrow when the company is expected to be sentenced. The only penalty possible is a financial one. Speaking today, Miss Jordan's mother Sarah described the sport as "totally ridiculous" and said the trial was distressing for her husband Christopher, who had attended the hearings.

The trial heard last week that Mad Dog guides carried no ropes and the company's safety plan was not up to industry standards.

She said: "The trial has been extremely traumatic for Christopher as he has had to sit through details of Emily's death and the events leading up to it. It has been very emotional but he has coped very well. The saddest thing is that she should never have died.

"She should not have been in the water that day. Emily was a confident swimmer and a fun loving girl."

Mr Jordan is expected to attend court tomorrow for the sentence.

Emily was half way through a round-the-world back packing trip with her boyfriend Jonathan Armour when tragedy struck.

Since Miss Jordan's death, her family has set up a charity called The Emily Jordan Foundation in her name.

The charity has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to help individuals with moderate learning and physical disabilities to lead fulfilled lives.