A body has been found in the search for the wife of rugby legend Scott Hastings who disappeared while wild swimming in Scotland.
Jenny Hastings, 60, vanished after going for a group swim in the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh, on Tuesday afternoon with her family saying she had struggled with her mental health for a number of years.
A massive search was launched in the Wardie Bay area by boat and helicopter, but rescuers were stood down on Wednesday.
Police have now said that a body was found in the Hound Point area of South Queensferry at around 3.20pm on Saturday afternoon.
Formal identification is yet to take place but Jenny’s family have been informed. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.
Jenny Hastings went missing earlier this week during a wild swimming session in Edinburgh
Scott and Jenny Hastings on their wedding day
The Hastings family previously said they were ‘absolutely heartbroken’ at the news of her disappearance. Jenny (pictured here with husband Scott)
The Hastings family previously said they were ‘absolutely heartbroken’ at her disappearance and that her loss would leave a ‘gaping hole in all of our hearts’.
The mother-of-two had made attempts on her life before and they said this week’s disappearance was ‘being treated as a high risk missing person case’.
The family added in the statement released on Thursday: ‘As many of you know Jenny struggled with her mental health for a number of years and ultimately she was unable to cope on this occasion.
‘She swam out into the Firth of Forth from Wardie Bay in Edinburgh and it appears that she wished to end her suffering in what was a regular and healing place for her.
‘She loved the water but unfortunately her mind was not in a place of safety.
‘The Hastings family are absolutely heartbroken.’
The statement was signed off ‘with fondest love’ and attributed to husband Scott, Corey, Daniel, Kerry-Anne and Ian.
It comes as an old social media post shows Jenny swimming in the exact same spot where she disappeared.
The image, shared on X back in March, shows her bathing in Wardie Bay, Edinburgh on a clear and sunny day.
An image shared on social media shows Jenny Hastings swimming in Wardie Bay, Edinburgh in March
Pictured: Rescuers searching for Jenny Hastings in the Firth of Forth on Tuesday afternoon
Emergency services were called to the scene at 2.45pm on Tuesday after a wild swimmer went missing after heading into the Firth of Forth (Pictured: Coastguard rescue teams)
An intense search and rescue operation was launched in the Firth of Forth on Tuesday afternoon, with coastguard helicopters zigzagging across the estuary in a desperate attempt to find her.
Lifeboat crews were also deployed into the water as they searched for Mrs Hastings with emergency services alerted to a ‘report of concern’ shortly before 3pm.
Jenny previously spoke about her long-standing battle with severe depression.
She has suffered the illness all of her adult life, and previously made attempts on her own life.
The couple had previously revealed she attempted suicide by eating nuts in an attempt to trigger a severe allergy with Mr Hastings having to administer an adrenaline shot to save her life.
They also revealed she once ‘panicked and bolted’ and, over 36 hours, walked for around 25 miles from Leith to the Pentland Hills before going to a police station.
She had no phone with her and did not make contact as her husband desperately searched for her.
A massive search and rescue operation was launched after Jenny failed to emerge with the rest of the group to the shoreline at Wardie Bay (Pictured: A helicopter flying overhead)
The search continued with a police presence seen at Granton Harbour (Pictured: A boat searching for the missing woman)
Opening up about the incident, Mrs Hastings: ‘It’s awful to think about that, but the reality is I just wanted to get away.
‘I wanted to be alone. I didn’t think anyone wanted me around anymore. It’s just awful, it’s an awful illness.’
Mr Hastings is one of Scotland’s greatest players, winning 65 caps for his country and representing the British and Irish Lions twice.
-For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
