Besut police chief Azamuddin Ahmad @ Abu said police received a report on the incident at 1.45pm.

He said the woman and her cousin had been staying at a hotel on the island since Tuesday.

“The 33-year-old victim had gone out to the beach with her cousin at about 11am. She then went swimming alone and did not return.

“Her cousin started searching for her 30 minutes later, and found out that members of the public had discovered her floating unconscious among the rocks,” Harian Metro reported him as saying.

Azamuddin said an autopsy determined drowning as the cause of death with no elements of foul play.

“The case has been classified as sudden death,” he said.

He urged the public to be more careful at recreational areas and ensure their safety and that of their families.