**Scottish Rugby Great Scott Hastings Speaks of Enduring Grief Following Wife’s Tragic Death**
Scott Hastings, the revered former Scotland and British & Irish Lions rugby player, has candidly discussed the profound loss he has experienced since the passing of his wife, Jenny. Nearly a year after the heart-breaking event, Hastings continues to cope with his grief and is hoping to bring greater attention to mental health struggles, following Jenny’s battle with severe depression.
Jenny Hastings, aged 60 and a mother to two children, went missing on 3 September last year while swimming at Edinburgh’s Wardie Bay—a location she visited often. After an extensive search effort, her body was discovered several days later, coinciding with what would have been the couple’s 34th wedding anniversary. In a tribute, her family highlighted that Jenny had contended with mental health challenges for most of her life, with particularly severe episodes in adulthood. Sadly, she had previously attempted to take her own life.
Reflecting on Jenny’s struggle, Hastings remarked on the “trickery of the mind,” noting that despite recent visits from healthcare professionals, Jenny ultimately succumbed to the crushing weight of her illness. “She suffered for well over 20 years,” Hastings told reporters at the time. “She got herself into a headspace and decided that was the best option, despite support from mental health teams. I’m utterly broken-hearted. She was a beautiful, loving mother, wife, and sister, and we miss her dearly.” He added that although suicide is often preventable, for many years Jenny was able to keep those thoughts at bay.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Hastings unveiled a deeply personal ritual he has embraced: open-water swimming every Friday at Wardie Bay, the very place where Jenny was last seen. Hastings describes the experience as “beautiful and calming,” though he admits his thoughts frequently drift to the buoy out in the water, where Jenny’s final swim took place. He recalls how much Jenny loved the water, reminiscing about a cruise in the Norwegian fjords just a year ago when the pair had swum in the sea together—an exhilarating and memorable moment for both.
The day of Jenny’s disappearance remains etched in Hastings’ memory. Arriving at Wardie Bay, he encountered Jenny’s belongings—but no sign of her. There was no note left behind, but poignantly, under his pillow he found a self-help book entitled *Don’t Worry*. Jenny had also placed her clothes into charity bags in preparation for her departure. “There was a secrecy behind it. She carried out her plan. This was her wish, and that I find very hard to come to terms with,” Hastings admitted.
Now an ambassador for the mental health charity Support in Mind Scotland, Hastings is using his platform to support others, including former team-mate Iain Sinclair, who is set to swim the length of the 60-mile Caledonian Canal in aid of mental health causes. Engaging in advocacy has, in some ways, provided Hastings with solace, though he acknowledges that the prospect of a future without Jenny is a source of deep sorrow. “The tragic thing is that I can’t grow old with her. That really upsets me, because there was a life ahead of us, and she didn’t see that. I miss her every day,” he shared.
According to the former Scotland international, Jenny found peace in the water. The family scattered her ashes at Wardie Bay several weeks after her passing, fulfilling her wishes. Hastings noted, “I didn’t have to identify her body, so my memory is of Jenny as this radiant, happy person. Yes, she struggled, but she was at peace in the water.”
Hastings’ openness about his wife’s mental health battle, and the devastating impact of her loss, echoes a growing national dialogue about mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Many supporters have lauded his honesty, and organisations such as Samaritans continue to urge those in distress to seek support.
If you are affected by this story or struggling with thoughts of suicide, Samaritans offers confidential help 24 hours a day, every day. They can be reached by calling 116 123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org. Other online and postal support services are also available.
As Hastings continues to honour Jenny’s legacy through advocacy and remembrance, his story stands as a powerful reminder of both the fragility and resilience of those affected by mental illness—and the need for compassion and understanding in the face of such profound loss.