Authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines say they will conduct an autopsy on the body of a German cruise visitor that was found floating at a local beach where she had gone to swim with friends.
Police said on Wednesday that the woman, 58-year-old Petra Ortlepp drowned even as they said that a postmortem examination would be conducted “to determine the exact cause of death”.
The police statement said that Ortlepp went to Mt Wynne — located on the southwest coast of St. Vincent, about 10 miles north of the capital, Kingstown — on Wednesday.
“Reports indicate that Ortlepp was swimming with friends around midday when she was later seen floating face down in the water. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.”
The police statement said that medical personnel arrived at the scene and pronounced her dead, and authorisation was given for the removal of the body.
“Investigations are ongoing. Our condolences go out to the grieving family and friends during this difficult time,” the police statement said.