A Chinese tourist drowned in the sea off the Pasir Panjang beach on Pulau Perhentian Kecil yesterday, police said today.

Besut police acting chief DSP Noorzainy Mohd Noor said Liu Feng, 31, had gone to the beach with his wife and two friends at 5.30pm.

Liu, who was from Guangdong, southern China, was hit by a wave and was dragged further out to sea, he told reporters.

His wife and friends attempted to rescue him but he was dragged far out to sea, Noorzainy said.

A search-and-rescue team found Liu’s body about three hours later, he said.

The body was sent to the Besut Hospital for a post mortem before being handed over to the Chinese embassy, he said.

- Bernama