A body found in the River Don has been formally identified as missing Monymusk woman Hazel Nairn.
Mrs Nairn, who was 71, was swept away in the River Don with her dog during a storm in November 2022.
The body of her Westie Ruaridh was found near the river five days later.
Severe flood warnings were in place at the time of Mrs Nairn’s disappearance, with the Kintore area among the worst hit when the river burst its banks.
A large-scale rescue mission was launched by the emergency services but it was scaled back in early 2023.
Mrs Nairn’s family has been informed
Last month on May 7, a body was recovered from the River Don, near Kemnay.
In a statement released this morning, Police Scotland said: “The remains of a woman recovered from the River Don near Kemnay, Inverurie, on Tuesday 7 May, 2024, have been formally identified as Hazel Nairn.
“The 71-year-old was last seen near to Monymusk on Friday, 18 November, 2022.
“Her family has been informed.”
Adding: “The death is not suspicious and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”
A huge search involving police, coastguard teams and the local community was quickly launched, after Mrs Nairn’s disappearance.
Family never gave up hope
The family and friends of Mrs Nairn never gave up hope of finding her body, organising searches in and around the River Don over the last 18 months.
Volunteer divers from Beneath the Surface made the journey from Lancashire in October 2022 and returned in November 2023 to continue the search in the area.
High water levels made it difficult for divers to search the areas identified as priorities by her family.
After the body was discovered in May, Mrs Nairn’s daughter, Anneka Gray, told The Press and Journal: “We have had so many lovely messages and we thank everyone for their kindness.”
It is believed the grandmother entered the water near Monymusk during a walk.
Following Ms Nairn’s disappearance, then first minister Nicola Sturgeon said her thoughts were with the grandmother’s family and friends.