A FEMALE tourist was having the time of her life on holiday with her husband and friends when she was suddenly killed by the blast of a jetliner.

New Zealand tourist Gayleen McEwan, 57, was killed by the blast as a jetliner took off at Princess Juliana International Airport on Sint Maarten, a seaside airport in the Caribbean.

Ms McEwan of Blenheim on New Zealand’s South Island, was knocked into a wall near the runway and was fatally injured after being blown away by the Boeing 737.

The mother of three was on holiday with her husband Phill and two Kiwi friends at the time of the accident.

Her sister-in-law Janice McEwan said family in Marlborough were still in shock, stuff.co.nz reports.

“We’re just devastated, that’s the word that comes to mind. We’re still taking it all in,” she said.

“We’re just in shock. She was having a fantastic holiday. That’s what makes it harder, she was having a good time on holiday and then this happens,” she said.

Ms McEwan was the owner of Blenheim Palms Motel. In time, her body will be brought back to New Zealand.

Her daughter Kelly McEwan posted a picture of her and her mother, prompting many to send condolence messages to the family.

One wrote: “Sorry to hear the devastating news about Aunty Gay. My thoughts are with everyone at this time. x Mum spent time at nanna’s yesterday to be with family.”

Another wrote: “Kelly so sorry to hear the news, sending love your way! Xo”

Emergency services were told several people had been holding on to the fence when the jet took off.

Paramedics took the woman to the Sint Maarten Medical Centre, where she died of her injuries.

Police spokesman Ricardo Henson said hundreds of tourists regularly ignore multiple warning signs to not stand by the fence at the Princess Juliana International Airport, which is less than 60 metres from the beach in the tiny territory.

He said dozens had been injured in recent years by jet blasts but this was the first time someone had died.

“Many people come just for the thrill of this main attraction, and unfortunately this time someone lost their life,” he said.

Henson said dozens have been injured in recent years by jet blasts, but this was the first time someone died.

“It’s very dangerous,” he said. “It goes on all day, every day.”

St Maarten Tourist Bureau director of tourism Rolando Brison said further measures were being discussed “to ensure that this isolated incident remains the sole of its kind on the island”.

“I met with the family of the deceased ... and while they recognised that what they did was wrong, through the clearly visible danger signs, they regret that risk they took turned out in the worst possible way,” he told the New Zealand Herald.