THE body of a woman has been recovered from waters by divers searching the wreckage of a sunken yacht. 

A woman was missing after a yacht and dredger Shoreway collided about 5 miles off the Felixstowe coast shortly after 1.30pm on Sunday.

RNLI lifeboats from Harwich and Walton joined the search along with several others and commercial ships throughout the afternoon.

The search and rescue helicopter from Wattisham was also scrambled.

A man and dog on the yacht were recovered safe and well by the dredger crew but the woman, and her other dog, remained missing.

The search continued into the night and the following day. 

Although formal identification has not yet taken place, it is believed the body is that of the woman who had been on board the yacht.

The second dog has not been found.

The woman’s body has been taken ashore and a post mortem examination will take place in due course.

As is usual practice the woman’s death is being treated as unexplained and the Coroner has been informed.

A joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision will now be carried between Suffolk Police and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.