Body found in search for woman who went missing after becoming stuck in estuary mud in Dumfries and Galloway

A body has been found in the search for a woman who went missing after becoming stuck in estuary mud in Annan.

Officers said the body of a woman was found in the Solway Estuary, Cummertrees, at around 5.40pm on Tuesday.

Formal identification has yet to take place, but police said Shona Campbell’s family has been informed.

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.