THE woman who died after falling into the Thames from the QE2 Bridge has been named.

Anita Belcher, 42, who lived in Grays, was seen standing outside the bridge railings when officers from Essex Police were called at 9.40am on May 8.

A police spokesman confirmed the woman was later seen to fall from the bridge.

An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned on Monday by Essex and Thurrock Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray.

The provisional cause of death was said to be extensive internal bleeding caused by multiple severe organ injury following a fall from the QE2 Bridge.

After Mrs Belcher fell, a police helicopter and lifeboat were called to the area beneath the bridge to search for her and at 11.30am they recovered a body.

One lane was closed on the bridge while officers carried out an investigation.