Man dies after falling from raft on West Coast river

A rafting trip on the Landsborough River on the West Coast has turned to tragedy after a 27-year-old man fell out of a raft and died.

Police were called to the scene, inland from Haast, about 6pm.

The raft had reportedly flipped with four people on board.

The one person who had disappeared was later found dead by police.

Police have revealed the man to be Samuel Jacob Zarifeh (27) of Christchurch.

Constable Paul Gurney, of Haast, said Mr Zarifeh was on a rafting trip with a group of teachers from a Christchurch school.

A helicopter located Mr Zarifeh's body, which was 45km dowstream from where he got into trouble near Creswicke Flat Hut, Const Gurney said.

WorkSafe NZ has been advised.

His death has been referred to the coroner.