Academy Award winning sound editor Mike Hopkins dies in NZ accident

Known primarily for his work with Peter Jackson Hopkins won Academy Awards for "King Kong" and "Lord of the Rings". New Zealand police say that Hopkins died when his inflatable raft capsized after being caught in a flash flood on a river. His wife Nicci hung on in the water for 2 hours before being rescued by locals.

Peter Jackson issued a statement saying: "Mike was a very genuine, caring and warm-hearted guy with a great sense of humor". Mike Hopkins was 53.