Chinese tourist dies after snorkelling off Pom Pom Island

SEMPORNA: A 66-year-old tourist from China died after losing consciousness while snorkelling with her family off Pom Pom Island here yesterday.

In the12.30pm incident, the woman from Yunnan, China, reportedly complained of feeling unwell before asking to be taken back onto the boat.

Semporna police chief Superintendent Tan Hiap Wah said the woman was then found unconscious after she was brought onto the boat.

"Efforts were made to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the victim, but she did not respond.

"She was then taken to Semporna Hospital for further treatment," he said in a statement today.

Tan said doctors later confirmed that the woman, who had a 10-year history of asthma, had died.

He said police were still investigating to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He also advised tourism operators to prioritise safety, especially during water-based recreational activities.

Police urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward at the nearest police station or contact investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Mohammad Ali Amat at 013-2120852.