The body of a woman who was found eight days after she had disappeared died after being immersed in cold water, a court has heard. 

Kim Wilde was a retired cleaner and went missing from her house in Kimms Belt, Thetford, on January 5 this year. 

Following an extensive search for the 65-year-old, her body was found in the Little Ouse River, just south of Thetford Power Station, on January 13. 

An inquest into her death was held this week at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, based at County Hall in Norwich. 

The evidence revealed that her body had been identified at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital by cousin, Simon Samuel - the brother of Britain’s Got Talent star, James Samuel. 

James, who had made it to the final of BGT in 2019 as part of magic group 4MG, had appealed to the public via Facebook for help to find his cousin at the time of her disappearance. 

Eastern Daily Press: An inquest has opened into the death of Kim Wilde, 65, of Thetford

Area coroner for Norfolk, Samantha Goward, said the medical cause of death was “immersion in cold water”. 

An inquest to determine the official cause of death will take place later in the year on September 9. 

The court is currently awaiting reports from witnesses, Norfolk police, the GP and mental health services, as well as Ms Wilde’s next-of-kin. 

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