Body Discovered in Search for Woman Trapped in Estuary Mud

During the search for a woman who had gone missing after reporting she was trapped in mud on the Solway estuary, a body was located. Police Scotland stated that while formal identification had not yet occurred, the family of Shona Campbell had been notified. Ms. Campbell, aged 74, was residing at the Moss-Side caravan park in Cummertrees and had been unaccounted for since approximately 17:00 on Monday, when the alert was first issued. She reportedly placed the call herself to report encountering difficulties. According to media reports from the Isle of Man, Ms. Campbell was believed to have been a resident there. A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed: “Around 17:40 on Tuesday, 10 December, 2024, the body of a woman was located in the Solway Estuary, Cummertrees, Annan.” The spokesperson added: “Formal identification has still to take place. However, the family of Shona Campbell, 74, who was missing in the area have been informed.” The death is currently being investigated as unexplained but is not considered suspicious, and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. Overnight temperatures in the vicinity had fallen below freezing. Previously, Inspector Amy Ritchie stated: “Every effort is being made to find Shona and her family are being supported by officers at this difficult time.” She further explained: “From our inquiries so far, we know Shona left the caravan park to go for a walk before getting into difficulty and has not returned.” Inspector Ritchie also noted that “Local officers and search advisers are being assisted by specialist resources.” An HM Coastguard spokesperson reported that their search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick was dispatched around 17:15 on Monday, responding to a report of a woman trapped in mud near the mouth of the River Nith. He further indicated that Coastguard Rescue Teams from Annan, Burgh-by-Sands, and Portling, along with the Nith Inshore Rescue lifeboat, were deployed. Stewart Bryden, a senior coastal operations officer with HM Coastguard, recounted: “There was a report went into Police Scotland last night at about 17:00 – a 999 call that a lady was in difficulty stuck in the mud on the Solway.” He added that “Teams were quickly deployed on to the scene and searched until approximately 23:00 last night with nothing found.” Mr. Bryden stated that the search recommenced in the morning, involving personnel from the police, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Nith Inshore Rescue. He explained the challenging conditions, saying: “We have got a lot of mud and quicksand out in the Solway, it is a quick tide.” He continued: “As we know, mud and quicksand moves so it is unpredictable where they can be and how they get stuck.” The coastal region off southern Scotland is regarded as hazardous, attributed to some of Europe’s most rapid tidal movements. Extensive mudflats characterize the estuaries of the River Nith and River Annan, where numerous sections are susceptible to quicksand. A pilot program is currently exploring whether satellite imagery could assist rescuers in navigating the waters more rapidly to reach individuals encountering difficulties. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.