WELLINGTON, New ­Zealand — Oscar-winning sound editor Mike Hopkins, who worked on the ‘‘Lord of the Rings’’ trilogy and other Peter Jackson films, died Sunday in a rafting accident in his native New Zealand. He was 53.

Mr. Hopkins drowned when his inflatable raft capsized during a flash flood in a river on North Island. His wife survived.

Jackson said many people will miss him deeply.

‘‘Mike was a very genuine, caring, and warm-hearted guy,’’ Jackson said.

Mr. Hopkins shared Oscars with sound editing partner Ethan Van der Ryn in 2006 for ‘‘King Kong’’ and in 2003 for ‘‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.’’ They also were nominated for 2007’s ‘‘Transformers.’’