Prosecutions could begin in a matter of months over the death of a 57-year-old woman who died when the yacht she was on crashed into a dredger, an inquest has heard.

Emergency services were called at around 1.30pm on June 8, after the vessel was involved in the collision off the Felixstowe coast.

Bernadine Ingram, who was known as Bernie and was from Butley, near Woodbridge, was on board with husband Peter. He was pulled to safety but it took until the next day to locate Mrs Ingram’s body.

Simon May, investigator for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, spoke at the inquest at Ip-City Centre, Ipswich.

He said: “My investigation should be complete in the next six weeks. I would imagine summons will be issued in October, with a first hearing in the first or second week of January.”

The inquest which Suffolk corner, Dr Peter Dean, is due to call again on December 3, heard earlier from Detective Inspector Chris Hinnit.

He said: “In terms of police investigation – as mentioned last time there is no further investigation. The matter has been passed to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on matter of any prosecution.”

Dr Dean said he was looking for a “clear picture” before he could be in a position to publish a verdict.

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The MCA has been looking into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident involving a yacht and a dredger off Felixstowe in June. An investigation is ongoing at this time.”

Mrs Ingram had been a well-loved doctors’ receptionist at The Peninsula Practice’s Health Centre in Alderton and at Chapman House, in Orford. She was responsible for establishing and running a support group for patients who had been diagnosed with cancer at the practice with which she worked for 14 years.