Woman drowns at Lord Howe Island after being pulled from water

A woman has drowned after being pulled from the water at Lord Howe Island despite a huge effort to save her.

Emergency services were called to Neds Beach when a 54-year-old women was found unresponsive in the water about 10.30am on Wednesday.

She was pulled from the ocean by a member of the public who started CPR before authorities arrived.

Police and hospital staff helped with first aid at the scene.

She was taken to Gower Wilson Memorial Hospital, but she could not be saved.

Police are investigating her death and will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Lord Howe Island is about 780km northeast off the Sydney coastline that only allows 4oo tourists on the tropical isle at any one time to protect its pristine World Heritage-listed ecosystem.

It is about a two hour flight from Sydney.

Visitors cannot enter the island without accommodation booked because of how seriously it controls its tourism numbers.

Lord Howe Island Tourism public relations manager Trina Shepherd previously told news.com.au that 400 visitors was calculated as the most sustainable number of tourists to support the economy, prevent the environment from over tourism and allow visitors to enjoy a unique experience.

“It also allows locals the space and privacy in their own homeland. This was such a clever implementation as it enables the local economy to thrive and creates exclusivity,” she said.

The Lord Howe Island Board only issues 400 bed licences across the island’s accommodation lodges, so once the 400 beds are full there is no more capacity for visitors to book.

The Board records all incoming and outgoing passengers.