British student James Murphy dies in kayaking accident in New Zealand

An American student, Daniel Hollnsteiner from New York, also died in the accident

They had been kayaking with nine other friends on Lake Tekapo (Getty )

A British student has died in a kayaking accident in New Zealand after being caught in freak weather in what officials called an “absolute tragedy”.

James Murphy, from London, studied at the University of Warwick but was on an exchange with Australia's Monash University.

The 20-year-old was with a group of friends travelling around New Zealand in campervans on a touring holiday when they visited Lake Tekapo on Friday.

James Murphy, 20, and Daniel Hollnsteiner, 21, died in the accident (Facebook)

South Island police said he was kayaking with 10 other friends when they “got into difficulty” in the afternoon.

A spokesperson said the weather suddenly changed, with an easterly wind picking up to at least 20 knots, causing waves to crash into the boats and tip the students into the water.

“After the alarm was raised, Lake Tekapo SAR personnel, voluntary firemen and the McKenzie Lake Coast Guard, assisted by a helicopter, rescued nine people and retrieved the two bodies,” he added.

“All survivors were suffering from hypothermia and a small number required hospitalisation at Timaru Hospital.

“An investigation will take place, looking at the reasons this tragedy occurred.”

Daniel Hollnsteiner, a 21-year-old American student, also died in the accident.

He was also on the Monash University exchange programme, having travelled from his home in Buffalo, New York state.

Inspector Dave Gaskin, commander for the Mid South Canterbury area, said New Zealand Police extended its “deepest sympathy to the families and friends of these young men”.

“The three other members of the groups who were admitted to hospital last night will released from the Timaru Hospital later this afternoon,” he said on Saturday.

“Inquiries into the event will continue over the weekend and the matter will be referred to the coroner.”

The two students were wearing lifejackets and are believed to have died from hypothermia.

Staff from AquaNorts, the local company that loaned out the kayaks, went out in the rough water to attempt to rescue them and called the emergency services.

Kylee Smith, the co-owner of the company, told the New Zealand Herald: “It is an absolutely tragic event, and our hearts go out to everybody involved. It's tragic for us and for them - and our hearts and our thoughts are with the families.”

Local residents told the newspaper the water suddenly got “very choppy”, making rescue efforts difficult, and that the glacier-fed lake was too cold to swim in even in summer.

A spokesperson for Monash University said representatives were liaising with students and officials, while supporting the victims’ families and friends.

The Foreign Office said it was supporting Mr Murphy's family and had been in contact with the New Zealand authorities.