Major search launched as woman goes missing at popular Scottish wild swimming spot

A major search is underway in a bid to find a woman who went missing at a popular Edinburgh wild swimming location.

A female swimmer is reported to have gone missing in the water near Wardie Bay shortly before 3pm on Tuesday.

HM Coastguard were alerted to concerns for the woman, with a number of lifeboats and helicopters deployed to look for the missing woman.

Wardie Bay at Granton is a popular wild swimming location.

A HM Coastguard spokeswoman said: "The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick has been sent as well as Coastguard Rescue Teams from Fisherrow and South Queensferry.

"The RNLI's inshore lifeboats from Kinghorn and South Queensferry are supporting, as well as nearby vessels. Police Scotland has been alerted."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of concern for a woman in the water near Wardie Bay, Lower Granton Road, Edinburgh around 3.05pm on Tuesday, September 3. Emergency services are in attendance.”

An RNLI spokesman said crews from Kinghorn, Queensferry and Anstruther are also in attendance.

Wardie Bay, off Lower Granton Road in Edinburgh, was last year added to the country’s now 89 government-recognised outdoor swimming areas.