Body confirmed as missing woman stuck in estuary mud

A body has been confirmed as that of a woman who became stuck in estuary mud in Annan.

The discovery was made in the Solway Estuary, Cummertrees, at around 5.40pm on Tuesday.

She has been named as Shona Campbell following formal identification.

The 74-year-old went for a walk in the Solway Estuary, near to Moss-Side Caravan Park, in Cummertrees in Annan at around 5pm on Monday.

She called 999 and asked for police who then called in the Coastguard.

HM Coastguard scrambled a search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick. Coastguard rescue teams were sent from Annan, Burgh-by-Sands and Portling, as well as the Nith Inshore Rescue lifeboat.

A search involving more than 40 personnel from the Coastguard, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Police Scotland and mountain rescue covered a wide area both west of Annan.

In the intervening period between her emergency call and the discovery of a body, tides had come in and out in the estuary.

“Last night, it was freezing, we had frost this morning, the conditions out there could be grim,” he said Stewart Bryden, the Coastguard’s senior coastal operations officer.

Ms Campbell, from the Isle of Man, was said to be a keen walker – covering several miles of coastline each day.

Police said her death is being treated as “unexplained but not believed to be suspicious”.

A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.