The devastated daughter of a pensioner swept away in an Aberdeenshire river has told how her family “are lost without her”. Hazel Nairn was last seen in the water in the River Don, near Monymusk, after getting into difficulty while reportedly carrying her pet dog amid torrential rain.
The 71-year-old was with her seven-year-old West Highland Terrier, Rory, whose body was later recovered following last month’s tragedy. Specialist teams and kayakers have scoured more than 20 miles of the river in a bid to find the grandmother, but to no avail.
Her daughter Anneka Gray said she searches the riverbanks in hope of finding Hazel, as the family can’t stand to think she’s out there “alone”. Anneka described seeing her mother for the last time at 7.30am on Friday, November 18, when she dropped her daughter off to be taken to school.
She told the Mail On Sunday: “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.
“I 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.”
Anneka added: “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.”
Hazel parked her car in Monymusk when the road to her house was blocked by the River Don bursting its bank. The gran was said to be carrying Rory to keep him out of the water.
Anneka praised the support of friends, family, and members of the public who have helped conduct searches. A drone pilot offered to assist them after getting in touch through social media.
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