Scott Hastings wife presumed dead after vanishing on swim

The wife of Scottish rugby legend Scott Hastings, Jennifer Hastings, is feared dead after she disappeared while wild swimming in Edinburgh.

The 60-year-old was reported missing on Tuesday (September 3) after going into the water at Wardie Bay on that same day. A huge search operation from coastguard teams, RNLI, police units and helicopters was carried out in a bid to find the beloved mother of two.

The search operations were wound down by the coastguard just after 8pm that same evening, with authorities saying they are treating it as a "high-risk missing persons case", reports Edinburgh Live.

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In a heartbreaking statement, the family said: "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.

"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."

Previously, in 2017, Jennifer faced a scare when she went missing for 36 hours and was found ten miles from home, phoneless and unable to reach out to her loved ones. Her ongoing struggle with depression also saw her attempt suicide in 2014.

Coastguard officials confirmed that the search for Jenny was called off on Tuesday evening with no sign of her. On Wednesday, September 4, police confirmed they were continuing their search efforts. The couple are ambassadors for the charity Support in Mind