A French woman was found dead in the sea on a Thai island yesterday (January 9) just two days after deadly storm Pabuk ravaged the area.

Isabelle Bailly, 41, had been staying on the island of Koh Samui with friends before she took a motorcycle to a remote waterfall on Tuesday morning.

But several hours later shocked hotel workers noticed her body floating in the sea. Cops brought her ashore in a blue hire kayak and noticed she had suffered a head injury.

Police believe she may have fallen off the motorcycle after skidding on the muddy ground still wet from the storm before plunging into the waterfall.

A friend, Natalie, said: ''We have stayed together for about two years and she was recently studying at a language school.

''The last time I saw her was at about 9am when she left her room. She went out on a motorcycle and said she was going to the waterfall.

''She had recently complained about having problems with her family but I didn't know what the details of that were.''

Police said that Isabelle's body has been sent for a post mortem examination to establish the cause of death.

Police Lieutenant Rawee Bunnarong said: ''The victim was wearing a white top and blue denim jeans. She had cuts in her forehead, bruises and abrasions like being struck.

''The doctor said she had been dead for between two and three hours. Police will investigate to find more detailed information about what happened to the deceased.''

A French woman was found dead in the sea on a Thai island yesterday (Mon) just two days after deadly storm Pabuk ravaged the area.

Isabelle Bailly, 41, had been staying on the island of Koh Samui with friends before she took a motorcycle to a remote waterfall on Tuesday morning.

But several hours later shocked hotel workers noticed her body floating in the sea. Cops brought her ashore in a blue hire kayak and noticed she had suffered a head injury.

Police believe she may have fallen off the motorcycle after skidding on the muddy ground still wet from the storm before plunging into the waterfall.

Friends of the dead woman said she had been studying at a language school but had recently had family problems.

A friend, Natalie, said: ''We have stayed together for about two years and she was recently studying at a language school.

''The last time I saw her was at about 9am when she left her room. She went out on a motorcycle and said she was going to the waterfall.

''She had recently complained about having problems with her family but I didn't know what the details of that were.''

Police said that Isabelle's body has been sent for a post mortem examination to establish the cause of death.

Police Lieutenant Rawee Bunnarong said: ''The victim was wearing a white top and blue denim jeans. She had cuts in her forehead, bruises and abrasions like being struck.

''The doctor said she had been dead for between two and three hours. Police will investigate to find more detailed information about what happened to the deceased.''