A South Korean woman tourist drowned while trying to save her husband during a snorkeling outing at Tanjung Langir, Pulau Perhentian Besar, near here, today.

Kim Dong Huk, 52, who tried to save her husband who had difficulty breathing while snorkeling, died about 30 minutes at the Pulau Perhentian Health Clinic after being rescued by villagers at 12.30pm.

Besut police chief Supt Kamaruddin Mohd Zakaria said the woman and her husband KyungMin Baek, 54, had gone snorkeling at 10am and were at sea for about two hours when her husband had breathing difficulties.

"The wife had tried to rescue her husband who was struggling in the water and gasping for breath. But when the husband held on to her tight, she could not float," he said.

Dong Huk's body was later sent to the Besut District Hospital in Jerteh for post-mortem.

Her husband Min Baek when met at the Besut District Hospital said they had arrived in Pulau Perhentian yesterday with two other friends for a holiday and supposed to return to Kuala Lumpur before returning to South Korea on July via Kota Baharu on an AirAsia flight.

"I am sad that my wife died while trying to save me," he said.