THE party on a cruiser which capsized on the River Severn, killing a woman, had been warned that it was overloaded.

River safety patrols had told the 16 passengers aboard the 23-foot Sweetie Pie that it was submerging. The boat sleeps a maximum of six.

The news emerged as two women and a man who were arrested after the incident, during Stourport-on-Severn Carnival, were released on police bail.

Police had not released the victim's name this morning, but the Evening News understands she was Jane Turner, who worked in Birmingham.

"A patrol did tell them that the boat was overloaded," said carnival committee spokesman Pete Roberts. "Obviously they didn't take heed of this."

The incident happened as the boat's new owners invited a private party of adults and children to watch the firework display from the water on Saturday night. It capsized near a jetty shortly after 10pm as it returned to the town's marina.

Members of the public were joined by Severn Area Rescue Association rescuers Alan Stanley and Edmond Sutton, who were returning to the marina when they spotted several dinghies on the river.

"At first we thought it was just kids, because they like to take their dinghies out," said Mr Stanley, SARA's executive chairman.

"But, as we went closer, we saw there were adults on the west side of the river being recovered. Then we noticed a submerged boat."

They discovered the middle-aged woman unconscious and trapped inside the capsized cruiser and had to smash two windows to reach her.

Mr Stanley said he saw the woman's face and arm through a porthole window and, after smashing it with a hammer,

he tried desperately to feel for a pulse but was unable to find one.

The woman was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital but never regained consciousness.

"The worst part was not knowing how many people were missing and not being able to see very far into the water," he said.

Chief Insp Steve Pooler, of Kidderminster police, said it was lucky there were not more casualties.

"This was a very difficult operation to carry out. The riverbank was dense and overgrown and the water was cold.

"Sixteen people went into the water and we managed to rescue 15 of them - it could have been much worse."

Police want to speak to anyone who saw the boat during the day.

Were you at Stourport Marina? Did you see what happened? Contact the newsdesk on 01905 742244.