Missing wife of British Lions legend 'presumed dead' leaves family 'heartbroken'
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Former rugby union star Scott Hastings has been left 'heartbroken' after being told the news that his wife is 'presumed dead'.
Jennifer Hastings has been missing since entering the water at Wardie Bay in Edinburgh, Scotland on September 3.
The British Lions legend reported the mother-of-two's disappearance which prompted a search party.
The RNLI, police and helicopters were involved in a huge operation to find the 60-year-old woman but the search has been called off.
Scott Hastings has been left 'heartbroken' by his wife's disappearance
The operation included coastguard helicopters zigzagging across the Firth of Forth on Tuesday afternoon.
Lifeboat crews were deployed into the water searching for Mrs Hastings alongside the emergency services.
However, the search proved unsuccessful and the coastguard called off the search after more than five hours.
The police have been treating her disappearance as a 'high-risk missing persons case' while the family have since released a statement.
It read: “As many of you know Jenny struggled with her mental health for a number of years and ultimately she was unable to cope on this occasion.
“It appears that she wished to end her suffering in what was a regular and healing place for her.
"She loved the water but unfortunately, her mind was not in a place of safety.
"The Hastings family are absolutely heartbroken. We miss our Jenny.
"She leaves a gaping hole in all our hearts and hope that she is returned to us safely so that we can celebrate her remarkable life.”
Jenny has struggled with depression in the past and was previously reported missing in 2017, eventually being found 10 miles from her phone.
Scott Hastings' wife Jenny has long battled depression
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She also attempted suicide by eatings nuts, attempting to trigger a severe allergy which required her husband adminstering an adrenaline shot.
Speaking about her depression in the past, she said: "It's awful to think about that, but the reality is I just wanted to get away.
"I wanted to be alone. I didn't think anyone wanted me around anymore. It's just awful, it's an awful illness."
The family have been left 'heartbroken'
It was noted on this occasion that she did not take her phone and had no means of contacting her family.
Alongside her husband Scott, who represented the British and Irish Lions on two occasions and earned 65 caps for Scotland, have long campaigned for mental health.
The couple had been ambassadors for Support in Mind Scotland, a national mental health charity.