A WOMAN has been found hanged at a Hampshire hotel - less than a week after she was saved from drowning in a nearby river.

An inquest will be held into the death of Michele Pink, 62, whose body was discovered in guest accommodation at Milford-on-Sea.

It was just six days after she was pulled alive from the Lymington River by one of the harbour patrol officers.

As reported in the Echo, Greg Pachany, 41, was hailed a hero after he saw her lying unconscious just below the surface and hauled her into his boat.

She had stopped breathing and was about to be given emergency resuscitation when she suddenly took a huge gulp of air.

Describing the incident later Mr Pachany said: “She didn’t want an ambulance but I told her she had to be checked over because she’d been unconscious under the water.”

Ms Pink returned to her car after being given a 40-minute examination by paramedics who had been called to the town quay.

At the time she was said to have fallen off a pontoon after bending down to pick up her handbag following a river cruise.

Last night Lymington harbourmaster Ryan Willegers said: “We are very sad to learn of her death, which appears to be a tragic sequel to an earlier event which had a positive outcome.

“At the time there was nothing to suggest it was anything other than an unfortunate accident.”

Ms Pink was a retired member of the Baltic Exchange, described as the world’s leading source of independent maritime data.

She lived near Hitchin, Hertfordshire, but grew up in the New Forest and was on a return visit to the area.

Her death has devastated members of a riding club that she helped establish in Shillington, Bedfordshire, in the mid-1990s.

A message posted by the club on social media says: “Michele was always passionate about horses and eventing and was a regular hunt member. Her bubbly personality made her an ideal person to get people to join the fledgling club she helped form 20 years ago.”

A police spokesman confirmed that Ms Pink’s body was discovered at a Milford hotel. A spokesman for Central Hampshire Coroner Grahame Short said she was found hanged.

A message on the Baltic Exchange website says: “Members will learn with deep regret of the death of Ms Michele Pink.

“Ms Pink was first elected a member of the Baltic in 1975. She represented Harley Mullion & Co Ltd until 1982, then Skua Marine Enterprises (UK) Ltd between 1983 and 1987.”

An inquest into her death will be held in Winchester on November 17.