Dion's mates console parents

Dion Latta was a champion rugby player and runner. Photo / Supplied

The parents of a teenager who died after being trapped behind a waterfall have been comforted by his friends, who are struggling to understand how he could be killed in such a freakish accident.

Dion Latta, 15, died in Dunedin Hospital early on Monday morning from suspected hypothermia and shock after he was left hanging upside down for three hours behind the waterfall with his leg wedged between rocks.

His parents, Logan and Sue Latta, were too upset to talk publicly about him yesterday, but had been visited by some of his schoolfriends at their farm near Palmerston, in Otago.

In an online post Olivia McIntyre said: "D, I went and visited your fam today and your home. It was lovely but so sad at the same time. Just seeing everyone so upset that your no longer here with us :(."

Dion was a boarder at Dunedin's John McGlashan College where he was a champion rugby player and runner and represented Otago in the New Zealand cross-country championships.

The college's director of boarding reportedly also met family members yesterday to offer support.

Another friend who was with him when he was fatally injured spoke of his admiration for Dion's fighting spirit. In a post, Owen Ripley said: "We all tried our hardest to get him out. He was a true fighter and was so strong throughout the whole thing. We were all impressed with his amazing effort."

At times during the complicated rescue the teenagers, as well as the professional rescuers, let out cries of frustration as they realised they could not get Dion out, said Senior Constable Mike Johnston.