A woman cyclist died after taking ill on her bike and fell into a ditch full of water.
The 48-year-old, named locally as Nicky Morrison, took unwell while riding in the Claddach Valley area on the Isle of North Uist earlier this week.
Tragically she was discovered by her worried husband who went out to look for her when she didn't return home from her cycle.
Sources said Nicky, a keen cyclist and nurse, suffered from epilepsy and is believed to have taken a fit while she was on remote country roads on Monday afternoon.
Paramedics raced to the accident but it's understood Nicky was declared dead at the scene.
The source said: "She was out cycling and didn’t return by tea-time so her husband, John, went looking for her and found her. She suffered from epilepsy and appears to have had a severe attack."
"It appears she has fallen into a ditch that was full of water and drowned. It is really tragic."
"Nicky was from Wales but came here when she married and was firmly settled into Uist life."
"She was very active in her local church and was well-known around the area.
"Her father-in-law is a minister and the family are distraught."
A local, who asked not to be named, said: "We are all very close-knit and everyone is shocked by what has happened.
"She was a lovely woman and was always out and about helping in the community especially during the pandemic.
"She was very kind and considerate and loved going out on her bike. This is a dreadful accident. I can't imagine what her family are going through."
Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating the circumstances surrounding Nicky's death but said there does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.
A post mortem to establish what happened was scheduled to take place yesterday.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "At around 7pm on Monday, 21 March, officers were made aware of the sudden death of a 48-year-old woman in the Claddach Valley area on the Isle of North Uist.
“Police and the Scottish Ambulance Service attended and assisted at the scene.
“Enquiries are ongoing but there are no apparent suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.”
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