A middle-aged man died after being hit by a train near Christchurch this evening.
Canterbury Police was called to the incident in Rolleston about 6.30pm.
The man had been struck by a train heading towards Christchurch, and did not survive the impact of the train.
A Police spokesman said it looked as though a person was lying on the tracks, near the Curraghs Road crossing, when the train approached.
A scene examination is presently being conducted and a police enquiry as to the cause of the collision is underway.