A 57-year-old New Zealand Woman has been killed in the wake of a blast a jetliner taking off at the seaside airport in the Dutch Caribbean.
Tourists and locals worked in vain to try to revive a New Zealand woman tossed to her death by the jet blast from a plane at a Caribbean beach.
The 57-year-old woman lay prone on the beach at St Maarten as witnesses performed CPR. She was comforted by others.
Several people were apparently holding on to the airport fence to ride the jet blasts of planes landing and taking off at Princess Juliana International Airport - a popular but dangerous tourist pastime.
St Maarten tourism director Rolando Brison told the Herald he had spoken to the woman's family.
The woman was apparently thrown onto concrete after losing her grip on the fence. Photo / Getty
"Yes, the family did confirm that [she was a New Zealander]," he said. "And we're so sad to hear that."
Brison passed on his condolences to the family for their loss when he met them shortly after the accident.
"I met with the family of the deceased this evening and while they recognised that what they did was wrong, through the clearly visible danger signs, they regret the risk they took turned out in the worst possible way.
"At this time I only wish to express my deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones while we continue to investigate what transpired just hours ago."
Paramedics reportedly rushed to her aid but she died shortly after.
Aviation commentator Peter Clark said jet blast was "incredibly dangerous", particularly if someone was standing behind a large aircraft.
That particular runway was "very restrictive".
Clark said it was 2300m long - an "average" length runway - and planes would fly directly over the heads of beachgoers.
There's less than 50m from the end of the runway to the water. It's a normal runway but it's a very tight runway. The planes come right over that beach, virtually, to touch down."
He said thrill seekers liked to stand by the end of the runway so the jet blast could throw them into the water.
