One year after British student Emily Jordan drowned while riverboarding on the Kawarau River near Queenstown, her mother has described the grief still consuming the family.
Sarah Jordan told the Worcester Times the family was still taking one day at a time but coming to terms with the loss of their 21-year-old daughter was "practically impossible".
A celebration party to remember Jordan was now being organised for friends and family next month.
"Emily's death last year has devastated the whole family and trying to come to terms with such a huge loss is practically impossible," says Mrs Jordan, of Trimpley.
"Unfortunately, it doesn't get easier to deal with; on the contrary, it just gets worse, as any family who has lost a child or a sibling will know."
"We think about her and miss her each minute of every day. It all seems so unreal".
Jordan, who had graduated from Swansea University with a first class degree in law, was travelling with her boyfriend when the accident happened.
She became trapped between rocks and drowned while riverboarding.
The owner of the riverboarding company has since been charged with failing to ensure the actions or inaction of employees did not harm Jordan. It will stand trial in August.
Since the death her family has set up the Emily Jordan Foundation, which aims to help adults with learning difficulties lead fulfilled lives.
Friends and family have raised 42,000 pounds ($NZ111,000) for the foundation by cycling, running, posing naked for a calendar, scaling mountains, playing golf, packing shopping bags.
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