Body of flood victim is found after 17 days

THE body of a woman who fell from a quad bike into a fast-flowing burn during the recent floods has been recovered, police have said.

It is thought Linda Weir, 58, was swept away by the swollen waters of Burnsands Burn, which joins the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway.

The alarm was raised on 5 April after her quad bike was found in the water near her Crairieknowe Farm home in Thornhill.

A major search, which included police, mountain rescue teams, dogs, helicopters and volunteers, was carried out over two days.

Police believe her body was swept along the Burnsands Burn and into the River Nith, where it was carried more than eight miles. The body was discovered on Thursday afternoon, 17 days after Mrs Weir went missing.

Police say they believe Mrs Weir, a farmer's wife, was crossing a weir at Crairieknowe Farm, where she lived, when the waters of the flooded burn swept her away. She used the quad bike to travel around the farm and is believed to have been tending lambs .

Her family reported her missing at 11:30am but said she had left the farmhouse at 8.30am.

Chief Inspector Alan Glendinning said: "What appears to have happened is that she was crossing a burn and was swept away. We have been searching the area where we suspect she entered the water and along the banks of the River Nith. It's a fairly extensive area."

The accident happened as parts of Scotland were battered by heavy rain and gales, raising water levels. Melting snow had also been causing some flooding. On the day of the accident, 38mm of rain fell and flood warnings were in place.

The weather was so bad that the search was called off till the next day.

The day after Mrs Weir went missing student Emily Coe, 20, died when she was thrown from her kayak in the fast-flowing River Coe in the Highlands. Her body was found later that day.

A spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway police confirmed that the body found in the river Nith on Thursday had been identified as Mrs Weir. Her family were said to be too upset to issue a statement.

Mrs Weir was treasurer of the Women's Guild at Durisdeer Church and a member of the Nithsdale Ladies Curling Club. She had three daughters: Joanne, Allison and Hazel.

A local source said: "Linda's well known as a popular and extremely generous woman. She worked very hard on the farm"

Jim McLaren, president of NFU Scotland, said: "Once again, we have been reminded that farming can be a hazardous occupation, which can be particularly exacerbated by poor weather conditions.

"Farm workers consider the health and welfare of any livestock they may have to be their top priority, but in some instances it is important for workers to take a step back and ensure their own health and safety."