The father of a young woman killed on a family holiday in Malaysia told today of his heartache.

Joanna Stillwell, 23, died when she was hit by a motorboat while she was snorkelling off the island of Redang on Saturday morning.

Miss Stillwell suffered chest and leg injuries from the boat's propellers and is believed to have died in the water.

Police are trying to establish if the boat had strayed too close to the island, off Malaysia's eastern coast, and into waters reserved for swimmers and people snorkelling.

Miss Stillwell, from Guiseley, had been on a three-week holiday with parents John and Janet, also of Guiseley, and her brother, Nicholas, 18, who have since returned home.

Mr Stillwell, said: "She was out snorkelling and finding turtles with her brother when she was hit by the boat. I'm not sure if it was a speedboat or a boat used to transfer people to the island," he said.

The professor of geography at the University of Leeds added: "We had just spent two weeks holidaying in Malaysia and had another week to go.

"I was in my hotel with my wife Janet and was called to the scene by my son, who was informed that an accident had happened. I was literally two minutes away.

"When I arrived, they had her in the boat and I spent some time in the boat with her. I believe she died in the water."

He said his daughter had an advanced scuba diving certificate and was an accomplished swimmer.

Miss Stillwell had graduated two years ago from Sheffield University with a degree in geography and politics. She had spent the last 14 months travelling in Thailand and Malaysia and had worked in Australia.

She was due to meet up with her boyfriend in Thailand and had taken time out for the family holiday.

Mr Stillwell said his daughter was the "light of their lives".

He said: "She was a fantastic girl, intelligent with an incredible zest for life.

"She had an incredible sense of humour and was the light of our lives. It's a life cut short that had so much more to it.

"We worried about her when she was travelling but she always kept in touch with family and friends via emails.

"It's ironic that she was with us when this awful thing happened."

Joanna's body is due to be flown home today.

Relatives at the family home in Bradford Road, Guiseley, were too upset to talk about the tragedy yesterday.