Man dies after falling from a swing rope

Photo / Thinsktock

A man has died after falling nine metres down a river bank while climbing a swing rope near Palmerston North tonight.

The 33-year-old was swimming with a group at Raumai Reserve, near Pohangina Valley East Rd, just north of Palmerston North.

Central police communications Inspector Mike Coleman said the man was climbing a rope near a bridge at the Reserve when he fell just after 5.30pm.

"He was going to dive in the river and fell, and fatally injured himself,'' Inspector Coleman said.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said the man died instantly.

"He's fallen over a nine-metre bank and into the river.''

Further details surrounding the death were unclear, the spokesman said.