A FEMALE tourist has been blown to her death by a jet engine blast as a Boeing 737 took off at a famous Caribbean beach airport, according to reports.

The 57-year-old, said to be from New Zealand, was seriously hurt in the incident at Princess Juliana International Airport in St Maarten yesterday, and succumbed to her injuries shortly afterwards, it was reported.

9 Plane coming in to land at beachside Princess Juliana Airport in St Maarten (file image) Credit: YouTube Bademeisterization

9 Tourists often gather under the flight path as jets pass low overhead (File image) Credit: Getty Images

9 Signs warn people of the dangers of getting too close to the fence Credit: Getty Images

She has since been named as mum-of-three Gayleen McEwan.

The airport – where aircraft pass just 100ft above the heads of holidaymakers on Maho beach – has become famous over the years.

Plane-spotting tourists often flock to the sands to see jets make the risky approach.

Many stand directly below the flight path with their cameras to record the rush as the aircraft pass overhead.

The director of tourism for the island of St Maarten, Rolando Brison, told the NZ Herald he had spoken to the family of the victim.

He confirmed she had been standing near the fence separating the beach from the runway.

She and her family were clinging to the fence when a Boeing 737 took off for Trinidad, the paper claims – despite signs warning of the danger from getting too close.

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Brison is quoted as saying: “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 that 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.”

9 Beachgoers gather behind a KLM aircraft taking off in this archive clip Credit: YouTube Kai A. Hortmann

9 The blast from the engines whips up the sand and sends the tourists tumbling Credit: YouTube Kai A. Hortmann

9 Dozens are blown down the beach and into the sea in this old footage Credit: YouTube Kai A. Hortmann

Paramedics rushed to the scene after the incident, which reportedly happened at around 6pm on Wednesday.

Harrowing video footage shared online appears to show the medics desperately battling to save the woman.

In 2012 a young woman was seriously hurt after being sent flying by the blast of a JetBlue aircraft.

Footage of the episode shows the woman clinging to the fence behind the aircraft as it goes to take off – in much the same way yesterday’s victim is said to have done.

9 The woman in this 2012 clip clings to a fence behind a plane at the same airport Credit: YouTube Johann Pidoux

9 The woman in this archived clip loses her grip and is sent tumbling backwards Credit: YouTube Johann Pidoux

9 The 2012 thrill-seeker smashes into a concrete barrier but luckily survives Credit: YouTube Johann Pidoux

As the jet’s engines fire up to full power, the woman in the clip loses her grip on the fence and is sent tumbling backwards.

She smashes head-first into foot-high concrete barrier separating the beach from the road as the sand swirls around her.

The thrill-seeker was luck to survive, but the video provides a chilling foreshadow of yesterday’s tragedy.

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