Cook Islands Police are investigating the death of a woman at a Rarotonga reef on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Trevor Pitt told Cook Islands News that they are waiting for the medical certificate before the file is referred to the coroner.

Pitt also stressed that it was not confirmed whether the woman had drowned, but it was only reported that she passed away after swimming towards the reef.

“As yet, we have had no confirmation of the cause of death regarding a woman, who died yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon,” Pitt stated yesterday.

“We received a report that a female had died after going onto the reef. I won’t know any more until the Police receive a medical report from the hospital. So far, I don’t know where we are right now.”

When asked which area the incident took place in, Pitt said the woman was in the town area.

“I wouldn’t be using the word drowned. I’m not aware that drowning is suspected. She was in the town area, I’m told.”

In late June this year, an 80-year-old British national, who was holidaying in Rarotonga with his wife, died while swimming in a Muri lagoon.

Police said the cause of death was “likely drowning with possible contribution of underlying medical conditions … contributed by possible underlying causes”.

In May, a 49-year-old New Zealand woman died in a water-related incident while holidaying in Rarotonga.

The woman was reportedly responsive at the incident site at Avaavaroa Passage, a popular tourist attraction for swimming with turtles, but was pronounced dead at hospital.