A paranormal investigator who was helping with a US tour of a supposedly haunted Annabelle doll has suddenly died, the company has said.

Dan Rivera worked with the New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR), which is currently on a national tour of the US, taking the infamous Annabelle doll across the country.

Rivera died suddenly on Sunday, while the company was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the NESPR said in a post to Facebook.

“With heavy hearts we share the sudden and heartbreaking loss of our dear friend and colleague Dan Rivera,” the statement reads.

“MESPR is devastated by his passing and is still coming to terms with this profound loss.”

Rivera was the lead paranormal investigator and a US Army Veteran, and often worked at events with the company like “An Evening with Annabelle” experience.