The wife of Scottish rugby legend Scott Hastings is feared dead following her disappearance during a wild swim in Edinburgh.
Jennifer Hastings, affectionately known as Jenny, went missing at Wardie Bay around 2.45pm on Tuesday (September 3), sparking an extensive search effort that involved police, HM Coastguard, and RNLI teams. Despite their efforts, the 60-year-old has not been found.
Devastated by the event, the Hastings family revealed Jenny had battled with mental health issues, saying she “struggled with her mental health” and “ultimately was unable to cope on this occasion”, reports the Daily Record.
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Further statements from the family explained: “Jenny went for a swim in the Firth of Forth on the afternoon of Tuesday 3rd September 2024 and the incident is being treated by the police as a high risk missing person case.”
They continued, expressing their heartache: “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. We miss our Jenny.
“She leaves a gaping hole in all our hearts and hope that she is returned to us safely so that we can celebrate her remarkable life.”
(Image: No credit)
Years prior, Jenny opened up about her long-standing struggle with depression after a separate vanishing episode in March 2017. She had spent 36 hours lost in the Pentland Hills on the outskirts of Edinburgh, only to be found far from home without her phone or any means to reach out to her worried relatives.
Reflecting upon that occurrence, Jennifer expressed her wish for solitude. She confessed: “It’s awful to even think about that now, but the reality is I just wanted to get away, I wanted to be on my own.
“I didn’t want to be with anyone. At that point I really felt that I was not part of anyone’s life – I didn’t believe anyone wanted me around. I was just walking, completely lost in my thoughts. I wasn’t even sure where I was or where I was going.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland reported: “We were made aware of concern for a woman in the water near Wardie Bay, Lower Granton Road, Edinburgh around 3.05pm on Tuesday, 3 September, 2024.”
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.