A woman who represented New Zealand in the 2013 Freestyle Kayak World Championships has died while kayaking on an American river.
Kayaker Maria Noakes Photo: Facebook
Maria Noakes, 50, died on Saturday while kayaking on the Cheoah River in North Carolina.
Ms Noakes was originally from Waipu, but had lived in Bryson City in North Carolina since 1996, where she operated a jetboat business with her husband.
She was paddling on the river with one of her two sons and two of his friends when she got into difficulty. Despite the river running at a normal level, her boat was found pinned against the river's edge and her body was found further downstream.
A friend told the Asheville Citizen-Times Ms Noakes' death was a "fluke".
"For her it was an easy river. The Cheoah for her was like her backyard, she had been paddling it for 10 years. She was paddling with people who she was responsible for and she didn't take that lightly."
Fellow kayaker Courtney Kerin posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, saying Ms Noakes was "best kiwi team mate and friend anyone could ever dream of".
