The tight-knit tourist town of Milford Sound is reeling after a local kayaker died in an accident on the Cleddau River.

He was Daymon ‘Daymo’ Nuhaj, 23, originally of Nelson.

Senior Sergeant Pete Graham, the western Southland area response manager, confirmed to the Herald Nuhaj was the man who died after a water-related incident in the Southland town about 1pm yesterday.

Nuhaj worked as a tourist guide and was an experienced kayaker, Graham said.

He and a friend got into trouble as they kayaked the Cleddau River.

“It’s a really small community, so yeah, a huge impact for Milford,” Graham said.