Korean tourist drowns while swimming in Pulau Gaya

A tourist from South Korea is believed to have drowned after being swept away by strong currents while swimming with her husband near the Bunga Raya Resort beach in Pulau Gaya, near here, Thursday.

Kota Kinabalu deputy police chief Supt Azhar Hamin said the couple were swimming at about 2pm when the wife was swept away 30 metres from the shore.

"The husband tried to rescue his wife with the help of the resort staff but their efforts were futile as she was breathless when brought to the shore," he said in a statement.

The victim, 30, and her husband 29, both from South Korea had stayed in the resort since yesterday.

Meanwhile, in Kota Belud, the fire and rescue department found the body of a man who was believed to have drowned while swimming in Sungai Sisipon, at 12.20pm, also on Thursday.

According to the Fire and Rescue Department's public relations officer Mohd Affendy K Ramin, the victim, identified as Edward Sungkin, 33, was reported missing at about 12.10pm, yesterday.