My harrowing hunt for Mum in river that swept her to her death

Distraught daughter ‘can’t bear the thought of her being out there alone’

SHE has been at the centre of an intensive two-week search of a river after she was swept to her death in some of the worst floods to hit Scotland.

Grandmother Hazel Nairn was only ten minutes from her home in Aberdeenshire when she lost her footing and fell into the swollen River Don as heavy rain and flooding battered the country.

But despite specialist search teams and kayakers scouring more than 20 miles of the Don in the hope of finding her, from the village of Monymusk to its mouth at Aberdeen, there has been no sign.

Speaking yesterday of her devastating loss, her daughter Anneka Gray, 37, said she has been carrying on the search of the riverbank, at times by herself, because her family can’t bear the thought of the 71-year-old being ‘out there alone’.

She said: ‘I am finding it really hard watching others, even strangers, go about their daily lives as if nothing has changed, but for us as a family our lives have been turned upside down. The one person – the head of the family that kept us all together – has gone in an instant. We’re lost without her.’

The tragedy happened while severe flood warnings were issued for five areas across the north-east, and the east coast saw a month’s worth of rain fall in only 24 hours.

It is understood Ms Nairn had parked her vehicle in Monymusk when the Don burst its banks and blocked the road to her house.

Carrying her seven-year-old West Highland terrier Rory, to keep him out of the water, she set off on the ten-minute walk home but lost her footing due to the strong current.

Miss Gray last saw her mother at 7.30am that day when she dropped off her daughter Georgia, seven, with her grandmother, who regularly took her to school.

She added: ‘I then spoke to my mum at 2.15pm to make sure she was leaving her car in the village, told her to be careful and to message me as soon as she got home.

‘I wish that conversation had been longer or I had told her to stay in the village until I got back from work. She left her car in the village knowing the water wasn’t safe for a car to go over the small bridge but she had been told the route was walkable.’

At about 3pm, the pensioner, who moved to Monymusk two years ago, and her beloved pet were swept away.

Miss Gray said: ‘I am led to believe the river had burst its banks and the field and road were covered, not looking overly deep, but I think the current was still extremely strong and unfortunately my mum lost her footing. She was carrying Rory as the water was too deep for him to walk in.’

This week, the searches will move to the coast but Miss Gray pleaded with anyone walking or working near the water to keep a lookout. Only last week she found the body of Rory – her daughter’s ‘playmate’ – while she was searching the river alone. The dog is now at Morven Veterinary Practice in Alford until his owner is found.

Miss Gray said: ‘Finding Rory was heartbreaking but I am glad it was me who found him. I just wanted to pick him up and wrap him in a cosy blanket.

‘I’ve been looking at the river for over 12 days. When I close my eyes, all I see is the river and its flow.’

She hailed the ‘amazing’ support from family, friends and members of the public who have been helping with the search from dawn until dusk each day. A drone pilot from Turriff, 30 miles from Monymusk, has also been assisting after getting in touch on social media.

Miss Gray and her brother Greig, 42, who lives in London, believe passengers and pilots of offshore helicopters, the RNLI and fishermen can help with the next stage.

She said: ‘My daughter is lost. Her nana was her best friend and little Rory was her playmate. I don’t think she really understands and asks often, “When is Nana going to be back?”

‘I either spoke or saw my mum every day so I feel lost also – I just want to hear her voice one last time.’

‘I just want to hear her voice one last time’